Reply To: Compilation of my thoughts

#50536
Lal
Keymaster

That is correct. In one way of looking at the “big picture,” attachment to sensory inputs or arammana  (with tanha and upadana) is the root cause of suffering.

  • The amazing fact (that no one else has fully explained with Paticca Samuppada) is that our craving for “worldly pleasures” is based on a grand illusion; our perceptions (saññā) are inherently distorted. The Buddha called saññā a mirage in the “Pheṇapiṇḍūpama Sutta (SN 22.95),” and we discussed that in the post, “Sotapanna Stage and Distorted/Defiled Saññā.”
  • Most sukha/dukkha (or, more precisely, somanassa/domanassa) vedana are “mind-made” based on “distorted saññā” built into our physical bodies (via Paticca Samuppada.)

The main points are as follows:

1. Everything in this world is made of “suddhāṭṭhaka” (sometimes written as suddhāshtaka). 

  • Suddhāṭṭhaka (“suddha” for “pure” or fundamental” + “aṭṭha” or “eight”) means a unit of matter consisting of eight fundamental entities: Four of these belong to the “bhūta” stage of pathavi, āpo, tejo, and vāyo arising due to avijjā. The other four of vaṇṇa,  gandha, rasa, and oja arise due to taṇhā.

2. The latter four entities are the ones giving rise to the perception (saññā) or sense of “pleasure” in worldly things: 

  • Vaṇṇa, gandha, rasa, and oja, respectively, make some things give rise to attractive sights, smells, tastes, and “generative power.” 
  • The basic ideas are discussed in “The Origin of Matter – Suddhāṭṭhaka.

3. The point mentioned in #2 gives rise to a “distorted saññā” of “tasty foods, beautiful sights, pleasing sounds, etc. 

I will gradually discuss this profound point in detail in upcoming posts.

2 users thanked author for this post.