Reply To: Ratana Sutta

#53292
Lal
Keymaster

Yes. These are critical aspects to understand. Let me try to answer your questions with the following key points. 

1. A living being, while in the beginningless rebirth process, has ALWAYS experienced a “distorted sanna” corresponding to the realm they are in.

  • The first experience without a “distorted sanna” occurs at the moment of attaining the Sotapanna stage. That is when, for the very first time,” one gets a glimpse of Nibbana or the “suffering-free pabhassara mind.” But even that is not the “suffering-free pabhassara mind” because it still has seven unbroken samyojana. Thus, that state is called “sappabhasa citta” or the other names mentioned in my earlier comment.
  • The same is true when attaining the Sakadagami and Anagami stages. They will have five unbroken samyojana.
  • However, at the moment of Arahanthood, all samyojana are removed, and one will experience the pabhassara citta/mind for the first time.

2. Whether it is a “sappabhasa citta” or a pabhassara citta, a mind can hold that state only for a brief time. The mind returns to the “normal state” (human bhavanga state). 

  • As we know, a Sotapanna can generate greedy or angry thoughts while living an everyday life as a “householder.” 
  • The only difference between a Sotapanna and a puthujjana is that a Sotapanna‘s mind will not allow committing an “apayagami deed” because of the absence of the first three samyojana.
  • In the same way, an Anagami will not be tempted by any sensory input in kama loka (since kama raga samyojana is absent), but will still crave “jhanic pleasures.”
  • Only an Arahant will not be tempted by anything. 

3. However, as we have discussed, everyone born with a human body (including Arahants) experiences the “distorted sanna” associated with kama loka while living everyday life. But Arahants’ and Angamis‘ minds will not attach to that “distorted sanna.

  • All others will be attached to the “distorted sanna” at various levels.

4. Sotapannas and Sakadagamis can cultivate the lokuttara version of Satipatthana and “recover” the “sappabhasa citta.” While in that state, they can engage in Vipassana and eliminate kama raga to attain the Anagami stage.

  • A puthujjana would first cultivate the mundane version of Satipatthana and “get close” to the “sappabhasa citta.” Then, while listening to a discourse, reading Dhamma concepts, or simply contemplating Dhamma concepts, they will get to the “sappabhasa citta” and attain the Sotapanna stage.

5. That is a summary. If you or anyone else has questions, please ask. However, I will discuss the above in detail in upcoming posts. 

  • It may seem that those below the Sotapanna stage don’t need to learn about the “distorted sanna.
  • However, I believe that “getting the full picture” would also make it easier to reach the Sotapanna stage. Understanding that all we crave is “not real” (they are illusions) makes a big difference in the mindset. 
  • People value “sensory pleasures” and are willing to lie, cheat, and even kill for them. Once Buddha’s worldview sinks into the mind, it will be easier to avoid “akusala kamma,” at least those with significant consequences. Most of our immoral actions are based the “distorted sanna” as explained in “Fooled by Distorted Saññā (Sañjānāti) – Origin of Attachment (Taṇhā) ” and other recent posts.
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