Study and Research Section

Commentary on the Mahaaraahulovaadasutta

Part XI : Section A

Relevant sutta passage: "Aakaasasama.m, Raahula, bhaavana.m bhaavehi. Aakaasasamañhi te, Raahula, bhaavana.m bhaavayato uppannaa manaapaamanaapaa phassaa citta.m na pariyaadaaya .thassanti. Seyyathaapi, Raahula, aakaaso na katthaci pati.t.thito; evameva kho tva.m, Raahula, aakaasasama.m bhaavana.m bhaavehi. Aakaasasamañhi te, Raahula, bhaavana.m bhaavayato uppannaa manaapaamanaapaa phassaa citta.m na pariyaadaaya .thassanti.

"Rahula, cultivate the mental development that is like space. Rahula, for you who are cultivating the mental development that is like space, pleasant and unpleasant impressions that have arisen will not persistently overwhelm the mind. Just as, Rahula, space does not settle anywhere, likewise, Rahula, you should cultivate the mental development that is like space. Rahula, for you who are cultivating the mental development that is like space, pleasant and unpleasant impressions that have arisen will not persistently overwhelm the mind.


1. Words:

  • katthaci: somewhere.
  • pati.t.thito: established, settled.
  • yadi: if.
  • pabbata.m: mountain.
  • rukkho: tree.
  • bhijjati: to be destroyed.
  • patati: to fall.
  • chijjati: to be cut (chindati: to cut).

Commentary:
na katthaci pati.t.thitoti pathaviipabbatarukkhaadiisu ekasmimpi na pati.t.thito,
As to the expression, it is nowhere established, this means, it does not settle in any place, such as on the earth, on a mountain or in a tree,

yadi hi pathaviya.m pati.t.thito bhaveyya, pathaviyaa bhijjamaanaaya saheva bhijjeyya,
If it would settle on the earth, and the earth would be destroyed, it would be destroyed together with it,

pabbate patamaane saheva pateyya, rukkhe chijjamaane saheva chijjeyya.
and evenso, when the mountain would break down it would break down together with it, and when the tree would be cut it would be destroyed together with it.

English:
As to the expression, it is nowhere established, this means, it does not settle in any place, such as on the earth, on a mountain or in a tree. If it would settle on the earth, and the earth would be destroyed, it would be destroyed together with it, and evenso, when the mountain would break down it would break down together with it, and when the tree would be cut it would be destroyed together with it.


Subcommentary (by Dhammapaala)

Words:

  • pati.t.thito: established.
  • nissito: dependent.
  • laggo: attached.

Subcommentary:
na pati.t.thitoti na nissito na laggo.
As to the expression, not established, this means, not dependent, not attached.

In this book

Introduction

Part 1:
Section a
Section b
Section c
Section d
Section e
Part 2:
Section a
Part 6:
Section a
Part 7:
Section a
Part 11:
Section a
Part 12:
Section a
Part 13:
Section a

Conclusion