Introduction 3.5.2: Cārittaṃ Vārittaṃ Sikkhāpada - The Training of Performing and Avoiding
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Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa
Introduction to 3.5.2
Introduction to 3.5.2
Cārittaṃ Vārittaṃ Sikkhāpada -
The Training of Performing and Avoiding
To live a life in samma kammanto, one has to understand properly what: “Fulfilling the training precepts (sikkhāpada) as pointed out by the Buddha.” - Paññattasikkhāpadapūraṇaṃ - embraces!6
The first five of the dasasikkhāpada are described for a householder who desires to live a healthy and wholesome life. The undertaking of this training is a serious lifelong task - especially as avoiding unwholesomeness should turn into a necessary base for the performance of wholesomeness as result.
Veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi is explained7: – ‘Tattha byañjanato8 tāva veraṃ9 maṇatīti10 veramaṇī, veraṃ pajahati, vinodeti, byantīkaroti, anabhāvaṃ gametīti attho.’ - ‘The characteristic of veramaṇī is, that it does away with malice, therefor it is abstinence, it abandons malice, eliminates it, makes an end of it and annihilates it, that is the meaning of it.’–‘Sikkhitabbāti sikkhā, pajjate11 anenāti12 padaṃ.’ - (The thought): ‘It should be trained’ - thus it is training; one proceeds by that – thus it is the foundation.’ – ‘Sammā ādiyāmi samādiyāmi, avītikkamanādhippāyena13 akhaṇḍakāritāya14 acchiddakāritāya15 asabalakāritāya ca ādiyāmīti vuttaṃ hoti.’ - ‘I undertake: I completely take upon myself! - thus it is said I undertake it with the intention of not transgressing, nor breaking it while performing but acting without any fault’.
Therefore the training of both - evaṃ cārittavārittavasena duvidhaṃ - remains twofold and closely interrelated: from prevention of unwholesome actions, wholesome result!
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[1] suciṇṇe: su + ciṇṇa (pp. of carati): well + practised, accomplishedThe Training of Performing and Avoiding
‘‘Dhammo have rakkhati dhammacāriṃ, dhammo suciṇṇo sukhamāvahati;
Esānisaṃso dhamme suciṇṇe1, na duggatiṃ gacchati dhammacārī.
Nahi dhammo adhammo ca, ubho samavipākino2;
Adhammo nirayaṃ neti, dhammo pāpeti3 suggatiṃ.
Tasmā hi dhammesu kareyya chandaṃ, iti modamāno sugatena tādinā;
Dhamme ṭhitā sugatavarassa sāvakā, nīyanti dhīrā saraṇavaraggagāmino4.”5
Esānisaṃso dhamme suciṇṇe1, na duggatiṃ gacchati dhammacārī.
Nahi dhammo adhammo ca, ubho samavipākino2;
Adhammo nirayaṃ neti, dhammo pāpeti3 suggatiṃ.
Tasmā hi dhammesu kareyya chandaṃ, iti modamāno sugatena tādinā;
Dhamme ṭhitā sugatavarassa sāvakā, nīyanti dhīrā saraṇavaraggagāmino4.”5
“Truly, Dhamma protects those who abide within the Dhamma, when Dhamma is upheld, it results in happiness,
The reward of Dhamma is, if well-practiced someone abiding within the Dhamma will not arrive in the lower fields.
Because unrighteousness and righteousness can’t have the same result,
Unrighteousness leads to hell, righteousness leads to a higher sphere.
Therefor one should determine to act in accordance to Dhamma, thus rejoicing through the Sugata,
Firmly established in Dhamma, the disciples of the Sugata are safely guided, proceeding to the top of the excellent refuge”
The reward of Dhamma is, if well-practiced someone abiding within the Dhamma will not arrive in the lower fields.
Because unrighteousness and righteousness can’t have the same result,
Unrighteousness leads to hell, righteousness leads to a higher sphere.
Therefor one should determine to act in accordance to Dhamma, thus rejoicing through the Sugata,
Firmly established in Dhamma, the disciples of the Sugata are safely guided, proceeding to the top of the excellent refuge”
To live a life in samma kammanto, one has to understand properly what: “Fulfilling the training precepts (sikkhāpada) as pointed out by the Buddha.” - Paññattasikkhāpadapūraṇaṃ - embraces!6
The first five of the dasasikkhāpada are described for a householder who desires to live a healthy and wholesome life. The undertaking of this training is a serious lifelong task - especially as avoiding unwholesomeness should turn into a necessary base for the performance of wholesomeness as result.
Veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi is explained7: – ‘Tattha byañjanato8 tāva veraṃ9 maṇatīti10 veramaṇī, veraṃ pajahati, vinodeti, byantīkaroti, anabhāvaṃ gametīti attho.’ - ‘The characteristic of veramaṇī is, that it does away with malice, therefor it is abstinence, it abandons malice, eliminates it, makes an end of it and annihilates it, that is the meaning of it.’–‘Sikkhitabbāti sikkhā, pajjate11 anenāti12 padaṃ.’ - (The thought): ‘It should be trained’ - thus it is training; one proceeds by that – thus it is the foundation.’ – ‘Sammā ādiyāmi samādiyāmi, avītikkamanādhippāyena13 akhaṇḍakāritāya14 acchiddakāritāya15 asabalakāritāya ca ādiyāmīti vuttaṃ hoti.’ - ‘I undertake: I completely take upon myself! - thus it is said I undertake it with the intention of not transgressing, nor breaking it while performing but acting without any fault’.
Therefore the training of both - evaṃ cārittavārittavasena duvidhaṃ - remains twofold and closely interrelated: from prevention of unwholesome actions, wholesome result!
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[2] samavipākino: sama + vipāki + no: same + having a result
[3] pāpeti: pāpuṇāti (caus.): make attain, let go to, cause
[4] saraṇavaraggagāmino: saraṇa + vara + agga + gāmino: refuge + best + top + going
[5] Dhammikattheragāthā, Theragatha, Khuddakanikāye
[6] These are the following ten dasasikkhāpada as described in the Khuddakanikāye for a novice (Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi, adinnādānā …pe…abrahmacariyā …pe…musāvādā …pe…surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā …pe…vikālabhojanā …pe…nacca-gīta-vādita-visūkadassanā …pe…mālā-gandha-vilepana-dhāraṇa-maṇḍana-vibhūsanaṭṭhānā …pe…uccāsayana-mahāsayanā …pe…jātarūpa-rajatapaṭiggahaṇā veramaṇī-sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi). They are perfected through the diyaḍḍhasikkhāpadasata, the 150 precepts of old and 227 later precepts for the monks as described in the Pāṭimokkha.
[7] this quote and the following: Sikkhāpadavaṇṇanā, Khuddakanikāye, Khuddakapāṭha-aṭṭhakathā
[8] byañjanato/ vyañjanato: word, characteristic, distinctive mark
[9] vera: malice, hatred
[10] maṇatīti: crush
[11] pajjate (med): go on, proceed
[12] anenāti: ena (instr.) + (i)ti: through, by this
[13] avītikkamanādhippāyena: a + vītikkamana + adhippāyena: not + transgressing + intention
[14] akhaṇḍakāritāya: a + khaṇḍa + kāritāya: not + break, split, gap + performing
[15] acchiddakāritāya: a + c + chidda + kāritāya: not + fault + performing
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Pāli lesson (with audio) 3.5.2
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Last modified: Thursday, 28 December 2023, 10:41 AM