1. Yes. Christian’s comment above answers Lotus’s second question. We can clarify it further with the following chart:
- Ancient yogis were able to cultivate all the jhanas and arupa samapatti. They realized the dangers of sensual pleasures (kama raga) and avoided most of the dasa akusala. In other words, they did the best they could within the “nava kamma” stage. Even though they were able to temporarily suppress kama raga to attain those jhanas and arupa samapattis, they could not figure out (did not know) how to eliminate it. That can be done only by comprehending the “whole picture” including the “purana kamma” stage.
- They were not aware of the “purana kamma” stage. The initial attachment takes place in the “purana kamma” stage. Until that is stopped, no one can break the sansaric bonds (samyojana). Furthermore, samyojana can be broken/eliminated ONLY by comprehending this complete “kamma accumulation process” in both stages! “Distorted saññā” plays a critical role here.
- We discussed the above chart and its implications in “Sotapanna Stage from Kāma Loka.”
- In fact, one “sees the Dhamma with wisdom” i.e., becomes a “sanditthiko” by “seeing with wisdom” how that initial attachment occurs automatically in the “purana kamma” stage. See “Sandiṭṭhiko – What Does It Mean?.”
2. I realized today that I had made some mistakes in the post “Purāna and Nava Kamma – Sequence of Kamma Generation.”
- That may have contributed to the first question raised by Lotus above.
- I will rewrite that post within the next two days.
- Until then, please continue discussing the above issue if anyone has questions or comments.
