by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivamsa
Today, I will explain the essence of Kaccānagotta Sutta. It is found in the Nidānasaṃyutta which explains the Dependent Origination. This Kaccānagotta sutta (Discourse to Venerable Kaccānagotta) is very important for a practitioner who practices insight meditation. Without the understanding of this kind of discourse (sutta), we cannot comprehend our knowledge in Dhamma.
Let us consider the case of Venerable Channa[1], who was the attendant to the Bodhisatta. He followed the Bodhisatta since he renounced the world who ordained himself after leaving the palace. Later on, Channa too joined the monastic order, but he practiced meditation without a good foundation. The foundation of meditation has two types of knowledges. The first is the Analytical knowledge of mind and matter (nāma-rūpaparichedañāṇa), and the second is the knowledge of causality (paccayapariggahañāṇa). These two knowledges are the foundation of Vipassanā meditation. Bhikkhu Channa did not succeed in meditation because he lacked basic knowledge of the above mentioned two. Therefore, it is very important for meditators to understand this fully.
The first knowledge is gained through an analytical knowledge of mind and matter (nāma-rūpaparichedañāṇa). This is called the purification of view (diṭṭhivisuddhi); whereas knowledge of causality (paccayapariggahañāṇa) is said to be the knowledge of overcoming doubt (kaṅkhavitaraṇavisuddhi).
As such, the book of “The Path to Purity”[2] (Visuddhimagga), written by Ven. Buddhaghosa, indicates the fact that these two knowledges are very important factors to enter the path to purity. Whoever has gained such knowledge stands in the Buddha’s Dispensation (sāsana[3]), as a junior stream-enterer (Cūḷa-sotāpanna). This person is not a stream-enterer (sotāpanna) though, but looks like a stream-enterer, so he/she is a junior or small stream-enterer. Stream-enterer is the first type of a noble person (the first stage of sainthood).
So this Discourse of Venerable Kaccāyana (Kaccānagottasutta) clarifies and explains these two knowledges in detail. According to the sutta, the monk Kaccānagotta approached the Buddha and asked a question. His question was very simple: ‘‘Sammādiṭṭhi sammādiṭṭhī ’ ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, sammādiṭṭhi hotī’’― “Venerable sir, many people say it is right view, it is right view. What is the measurement to right view?”
The Buddha explained that the two knowledges mentioned above in this sutta are the measurement and the right view of insight knowledge (vipassanā sammādiṭṭhi)
According to the commentary, there are five kinds of right view:
[Click here to read more.]
Today, I will explain the essence of Kaccānagotta Sutta. It is found in the Nidānasaṃyutta which explains the Dependent Origination. This Kaccānagotta sutta (Discourse to Venerable Kaccānagotta) is very important for a practitioner who practices insight meditation. Without the understanding of this kind of discourse (sutta), we cannot comprehend our knowledge in Dhamma.
Let us consider the case of Venerable Channa[1], who was the attendant to the Bodhisatta. He followed the Bodhisatta since he renounced the world who ordained himself after leaving the palace. Later on, Channa too joined the monastic order, but he practiced meditation without a good foundation. The foundation of meditation has two types of knowledges. The first is the Analytical knowledge of mind and matter (nāma-rūpaparichedañāṇa), and the second is the knowledge of causality (paccayapariggahañāṇa). These two knowledges are the foundation of Vipassanā meditation. Bhikkhu Channa did not succeed in meditation because he lacked basic knowledge of the above mentioned two. Therefore, it is very important for meditators to understand this fully.
The first knowledge is gained through an analytical knowledge of mind and matter (nāma-rūpaparichedañāṇa). This is called the purification of view (diṭṭhivisuddhi); whereas knowledge of causality (paccayapariggahañāṇa) is said to be the knowledge of overcoming doubt (kaṅkhavitaraṇavisuddhi).
As such, the book of “The Path to Purity”[2] (Visuddhimagga), written by Ven. Buddhaghosa, indicates the fact that these two knowledges are very important factors to enter the path to purity. Whoever has gained such knowledge stands in the Buddha’s Dispensation (sāsana[3]), as a junior stream-enterer (Cūḷa-sotāpanna). This person is not a stream-enterer (sotāpanna) though, but looks like a stream-enterer, so he/she is a junior or small stream-enterer. Stream-enterer is the first type of a noble person (the first stage of sainthood).
So this Discourse of Venerable Kaccāyana (Kaccānagottasutta) clarifies and explains these two knowledges in detail. According to the sutta, the monk Kaccānagotta approached the Buddha and asked a question. His question was very simple: ‘‘Sammādiṭṭhi sammādiṭṭhī ’ ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, sammādiṭṭhi hotī’’― “Venerable sir, many people say it is right view, it is right view. What is the measurement to right view?”
The Buddha explained that the two knowledges mentioned above in this sutta are the measurement and the right view of insight knowledge (vipassanā sammādiṭṭhi)
According to the commentary, there are five kinds of right view:
[Click here to read more.]
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