The Four types of Discriminating Knowledge in Early Buddhism
The Four types of Discriminating Knowledge in Early Buddhism
Abstract
The Pa isambhidāmaggappakara a is unique when compared with other Pali canonical Texts. Despite the fact that it contains approximately a hundred stanzas, it is the only ‘prose’ text as such in the Khuddakanikāya which contains so many poetic stanzas. The purpose of the Pa isambhidāmaggappakara a is to explain Pa isambhidā; the fourfold analytical knowledge; Attha, Dhamma, Nirutti and Pa ibhāna. The word Pa isambhidā is difficult to understand because there have been many contradictory arguments with regard to its original meaning. The purpose of this study is to examine the various occurrences of “Pa isambhidā” in the Suttapi aka and to come up with an acceptable explanation of “Pa isambhidā.”
Even though the term Pa isambhidā does not occur in the first three Nikāyas: Dīgha, Majjhima and Sa yutta of the Suttapi aka, it occurs in the A guttaranikāya. However this word appears in the Commentaries and Sub-commentaries of the former three Nikāyas, and it is also found in the Niddesapāli, the Apadānapāli and the Buddhavansapāli. According to numerous references in the Suttapi aka, the “Pa isambhidā” are forms of knowledge that some very clever person attains within a very short period of time. This knowledge will then help the attainer to clarify further complications regarding the Dhamma-Vinaya, and live a life of eternal bliss and happiness thereafter.
In this paper the term Pa isambhidā will be examined etymologically, paying attention to Early Buddhism and the different options that come to view in various Texts. This will be discussed together with the meaning of the four branches of the Pa isambhidā.
Keywords: Pa isambhidā, analytical knowledge, Attha, Dhamma, Nirutti, Pa ibhāna
