Reply To: Post on “Saṅkhāra – An Introduction”

Lal Said,

Of course, it helps a lot to stay away from sensory pleasures as much as possible.

Many people miss the meaning of this statement. Sensual pleasure is generated in the mind. that is where they need to be stopped. If experiencing something was kama raga, kama raga couldn’t be ever removed.

It may take time, but it is worthwhile to read, contemplate, and understand that “seeing is just a collection of brief seeings.” (which emphasizes that there is no “soul/atman” that is “seeing” that tree in one shot. But of course, as long as one has not removed ditthi anusaya, that is one’s view.)

– That is the meaning of the verse, “ditthe dittha mattan bhavissati.” That verse in often incorrectly translated as “seeing is just seeing,” which does not make much sense.

– Here, “mattan” means “a brief moment/event.” Seeing a tree takes many such events. That is confirmed by modern science too.