English
Because it should be asked, "Which is the collection of proximate cause methods?", it asks, "Among these, which is the collection of proximate cause methods?" Having asked, in order to extract the Sutta passage in which the stated proximate causes are extracted, the verse "Therefore, for one whose mind is guarded, right intention is the range of activity" is stated. The meaning of the verse has already been stated. Because it should be asked, "What are the meanings of the verse, and of which phenomena are they the proximate causes?", "Therefore, for one whose mind is guarded," etc., is stated. The guarding of the sense doors, which is the meaning of the Sutta passage "Therefore, for one whose mind is guarded," is the proximate cause of the three good conducts, namely the perfection of good conduct because it is the proximate cause of fulfillment. Right thoughts, such as thoughts of renunciation, which are the meaning of the scripture passage "having right thought as its domain," are the foundation for tranquility, because they are the proximate cause for suppressing hindrances like sensual desire. Right view regarding kamma ownership and right view seeing dependent mind-and-matter, which are the meaning of the scripture passage "preceded by right view," are the foundation for insight, because they are the special cause for contemplation of impermanence and so on. The wisdom of contemplating rise and fall, which is the meaning of the scripture passage "having known rise and fall," is the foundation for the stage of vision, because it is the proximate cause for attaining the first path. Overcoming sloth and torpor, which is the meaning of the scripture passage "a monk who has overcome sloth and torpor," is the foundation for energy, because it is the proximate cause. The development of abandoning what should be abandoned, which is the meaning of the scripture passage "he abandons all bad destinations," is the foundation for the development of the noble path, because the perfection of the noble path development is possible through the abandoning of what should be abandoned. Because it is to be said, "This much of the foundation-method compilation is complete," it is stated, "the foundation-method compilation is appointed." The meaning to be taken is this: whatever specific explanatory foundation-method compilation by which the meanings of the scripture passages, which are foundations, have been extracted, that specific explanatory foundation-method compilation is appointed and should be appropriately determined and applied. Thus, in the foundation-method compilation, this explanation, composed according to one's strength and ability, is finished. However, by the wise… (etc.)… it should be taken. 5. Explanation of the Characteristic-Method Compilation 67. Whatever foundation-method compilation by which the meanings of the scripture passages, which are foundations, have been determined by the teacher and understood by us, that foundation-method compilation is complete. Because it is to be asked, "Which is the characteristic-method compilation?" it is stated, "Among these, which is the characteristic-method compilation?" and so on. There, among those sixteen method compilations, such as the exposition-method compilation, "What is this special explanation called the 'method of characteristics'?" he asks. Because it should be asked, "Which phenomena are taken as having similar characteristics to which meanings of the suttas?", therefore "Thus..." and so on was said. By the sutta passage, "Thus for one whose mind is guarded, whose range is right thought," this guarding, the faculty of mindfulness, is taken. When the faculty of mindfulness is taken, the five faculties beginning with faith are taken, because they have similar characteristics in the sense of being faculties. By the sutta passage, "With right view as the forerunner," right view is taken. When right view is taken, the Noble Eightfold Path is taken. "What is the reason for that?" he asks for the cause. Having asked, he states the cause, "For from right view..." and so on. For because right thought arises from right view, therefore, because right speech arises from right thought, therefore, because right action arises from right speech, therefore, because right livelihood arises from right action, therefore, because right effort arises from right livelihood, therefore, because right mindfulness arises from right effort, therefore, because right concentration arises from right mindfulness, therefore, because right liberation arises from right concentration, therefore, because the knowledge and vision of right liberation arises from right liberation, therefore, the Noble Eightfold Path is taken. Because it should be said, "This much is the complete method of characteristics," therefore "the method of characteristics is applied" was said. By whichever method of characteristics, being a special explanation, the meanings of the sutta passages are taken with similar characteristics, that method of characteristics, being a special explanation, is applied, meaning it should be determined and employed appropriately. Thus, in the method of characteristics, composed according to one's strength and ability, The explanation is finished. But by the wise... (rest omitted)... it should be taken. 6. Explanation of the Method of Fourfold Arrangement 68. By whichever method of characteristics Therefore, the meaning of the Sutta passage is grasped by a common characteristic. That characteristic-extraction-method is complete. Because it should be asked, "What is the four-fold extraction method?" "Among these, what is the four-fold extraction method?" and so on, is said. Among those sixteen extraction methods, such as the teaching-extraction-method, it asks, "What kind of special description is called the four-fold extraction method?" Because it should be asked, "In which Sutta are which etymologies, intentions, causes, and connections of earlier and later parts determined?" "Therefore..." and so on, is said. In the Sutta passage "Therefore, for one whose mind is guarded," the etymology "rakkhita" (guarded) from "rakkhīyate" (is guarded) is shown by the synonym "paripālīyatī" (is protected). Because the word "iti" has the meaning of "and so on": "It thinks, therefore citta (mind)." "It gathers its own continuum, therefore citta (mind)." "It is gathered by conditions, therefore citta (mind)." "It is variegated in nature, therefore citta (mind)." "It is of the nature of making variegated, therefore citta (mind)." "Whose mind is guarded, therefore rakkhitacitto (one whose mind is guarded)." "It resolves rightly, therefore sammāsaṅkappo (right resolve)." "Cows graze here, therefore gocaro (pasture/range)." "Like a pasture, therefore gocaro (range/sphere)." "Whose range is right resolve, therefore sammāsaṅkappagocaro (one whose range is right resolve)." "It sees rightly, therefore sammādiṭṭhi (right view)." "Whose foremost is right view, therefore sammādiṭṭhipurekkhāro (one whose foremost is right view)." "It knows, therefore ñatvāna (having known)." "Arising and passing away, therefore udayabbayaṃ (arising and passing away)." "Sloth and torpor, therefore thinamiddhaṃ (sloth and torpor)." "It overcomes, therefore abhibhū (overcomer)." "It overcomes sloth and torpor, therefore thinamiddhābhibhū (overcomer of sloth and torpor)." "He begs, therefore bhikkhū (monk)" - this etymology is also extracted. Therefore it is said, "The word 'iti' has the meaning of 'and so on'" (Netti. Aṭṭha. 68). This kind of designation, as described, is called etymology, and is extracted. If one were to ask, "What is the Blessed One's intention in this Sutta passage?" Those good people who wish to be freed from all unfortunate destinies, those good people will be practitioners of Dhamma, with guarded minds - this is the intention. Here, the Blessed One's intention in the Sutta passage beginning "Therefore, for one whose mind is guarded..." should be extracted. If one were to ask, "What is the cause?" Kokālika, regarding the elders Sāriputta and Moggallāna... Because he did not guard his mind, and corrupted it, he was reborn in the Great Lotus Hell. And because the Blessed One, endowed with mindfulness as protection, abandons all bad destinations, therefore, a bhikkhu, a good person, wishing to abandon all bad destinations, should have a guarded mind. This is the reason to be extracted. If one were to ask, "What is the connection between the preceding and succeeding parts?" The statement in the Sutta, "The mind should be guarded by mindfulness," that preceding statement, connects and accords with this Sutta passage: "Therefore, for one with a guarded mind... ...he abandons all bad destinations." Thus, the connection between the preceding and succeeding parts should be determined. Because it is to be said, "Thus far, the four-fold method of exposition is complete," it is said, "The four-fold method of exposition is appointed." By whichever specific explanatory four-fold method of exposition, the etymology, intention, reason, and connection between preceding and succeeding parts are to be determined, that specific explanatory four-fold method of exposition is appointed. Having determined it appropriately, it should be applied; this meaning should be understood. Thus, in the four-fold method of exposition, composed according to the strength of beings, the explanation is completed. But by the wise... ...it should be understood. 7. Explanation of the Revolving Method of Exposition 69. By whichever four-fold method of exposition, the etymology, intention, reason, and connections between preceding and succeeding parts were distinguished, that four-fold method of exposition is complete. Because it is to be asked, "What is the revolving method of exposition?" it is said, "Among these, what is the revolving method of exposition?" and so on. There, it asks, "What specific explanation