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Dhamma Letter No. 146
Satipatthana 63: Cittānupassanā (Observation of mind) 마음관찰 17: Five spiritual faculties: Wisdom (paññā) 5
Right understanding is wisdom (paññā). To understand correctly is to understand the Four Noble Truths. Dukkha (suffering / unsatisfaction) of feeling is present whenever a defilement (Kilesa) arises. This is only dukkha as suffering / unsatisfaction, not suffering among the Four Noble Truths.
Suffering / unsatisfaction is the suffering / unsatisfaction of kilesa and suffering / unsatisfaction of samadhi as well. Pīti (pleasure) is also suffering / unsatisfaction, and both pleasant and painful feelings enter suffering / unsatisfaction. (See Dhamma Letter no. 9).
The Buddha only spoke of the truth of suffering / unsatisfaction, not the truth of pleasure / satisfaction. The average person only knows dukkha (suffering) of feeling and does not know the truth of suffering / unsatisfaction.
A 'right understanding of the dhamma' comes from seeing the dhamma as it is. The mind that knows the object through the method of Cittanupassana is the ordinary mind that knows the object. To know the character of an object is to know from the mind. Wisdom does not see the character of the object but understands it. Seeing is just seeing, but understanding is a lot different. Paramaṭṭha (ultimate reality) is not what is seen, but what is understood and experienced. (See Dhamma Letter no. 123, no 124 and no. 125).
The object and the knowing mind are together. If you look at the mind you know, you see the target as well. However, their character is different. The object is to be noticed, and the knowing mind is to aware.
When you understand this clearly, you can see the two (the object and the mind) are apart. You must be able to see if there is a pollution source (Kilesa, defilement) as an object in the mind of the seeing. If you don't see this, wisdom won't come out. When kilesa enters the mind of seeing, the mind of seeing changes. Knowing this, Kilesa is powerless.
To be continued…
May you develop your Wisdom (paññā) continuously!
May you achieve the Samma-Diṭṭhi (Right View) through Satipatthāna (vipassana meditation)!
May all practice well and reach to Magga (道, the path of enlightenment) and Phala (果, the fruit of enlightenment)!
with Metta,
Bhikkuni Kosalla Vipassini
Edited by Euna Bonovich
If you have any questions related to dhamma & meditation, please feel free to ask. You can reach Ayya Kosalla directly at Bhikkhuni.Kosalla@gmail.com.
법에 대한 질문이 있으신 분은 위의 이메일 주소로 질문을 남겨주세요.
위빠사나명상의 마음관찰에 대한 논문을 한글 원본으로 읽고 싶으신 분은 클릭해서 다운로드 받을 수 있습니다. (네이버에 PDF 첨부)
The Korean Dhamma Letter is here 담마레터.
Buddha Sāsanaṁ Ciraṁ Tiṭṭhatu!
May the Buddha’s teachings last a long time!
Bhavatu Sabba Sotiṁ ca Maṅgalaṁ ca!!
May everyone be led on the path of peace and blessing!!
Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu!