Reply To: Translation with Notes for DhammaChakka Pavattana Sutta

#48809
gopinadh
Participant

Sir(s) I have revised my draft of Dhamma Chakka Pavatta (DCP) Sutta. (I will be revisiting it, for it is giving me great joy) . And once it is in good shape I will post it here,  if I continue to feel that it will have some  utility and of assistance to others.

More importantly, 

I studied Ariyaratna Sir’s concept of Ichha, Niccha and Aniccha. I had to !, because I got stuck in the sutta. Especially at the start of  the Four Noble Truths. I now understand , why some scholars mistakenly thought ,  it was not an original part of the sutta and was inserted later.

It was followed by  some serious homework, based on Ariyaratna Sir’s lesson on these 3 terms .

The following is to present the basic framework , within which I will try and revise DCP

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Icca/Iccha is Desire.

Nicca/Niccha is our belief that Iccha or Icchas in Life can be fulfilled.

This is the basic outlook on Life. We are sure (100%, nay a 1000%) that Life “is”, there  to  enjoy, and it is an avenue to fulfil our Desires. To us,  “Suffering”,  is an unfortunate event , which sometimes happen. But,  even with these sporadic events of Suffering (minor or major) our belief in Life , that it is meant for fulfilling our desires, remains unshaken. To us, Life( as we know and live it) is one Biiiiig Iccha!

From hence forth I will not attempt to try and explain in detail, for I am finding it difficult to articulate in logical terms,  the facts I experience, but as all of you are in advance stages when compared to me(already traversed these), it shouldn’t be a problem.

  1. If Nicca/Niccha was a fact (in Life- as we know it & live it) then life should end as soon as an event is completed. For instance I am sleeping and in the middle of the night I turn that way to change the sleeping position. 
  2. If Life ( as we know & live) was nicca/niccha , there should have been an ending (ending with a capital E)  as soon as the turn was completed. A full stop Sirs. Are you with me?
  3. But it doesn’t , I continue to sleep , wake up and life ( as we know& live)goes on, because it is Anicca/Aniccha. It is not in its own hands. It can never stand fulfilled. (Dhammapada 186, 187- there is no satisfying desires….).
  4. If this View of Anicca is applied to our own “sense of being” then amazing doorways open.
  5. The whole structure(me, my sense of being, My being or Being, –  call it whatever),  while it stands with lots and lots of promise, in fact, it is Anicca, can never ever be fulfilled. Like Hunger, a wound, it is always open.
  6. In contrast to these facts, my life( as I know and live it) involves investing a lot of Ichha in my own being and Life as a whole. In fact, to me, Life( as I live it) is One Biig Iccha, while in reality, along with not being in its own hands, its nature is Aniccha.

And that’s it sir,  – Tampichham na labati Dukkham.

Sirs, please correct/add/improve.