English
Here, "some" refers to persons who are cravers of form-craving, called sarā. "Devoted to forms" means devoted to, absorbed in, the object called the form-element. By this term, the sarā called form-craving is understood as established and arisen in the form-element. By "some are devoted to sounds," and so on, the sarā called sound-craving and so on, established and arisen in the sound-element and so on, are also understood as sarā. In "some are devoted to dhammas," by the inclusion of dhammas, the eye-element, ear-element, nose-element, tongue-element, body-element, the seven consciousness-elements, and the dhamma-element are included. Therefore, though eighteen elements are taken as the basis of establishment, they are to be seen as included in six kinds. "How many terms in 'devoted to forms' and so on..." Since it should be asked, "In the category of craving, what are the synonyms for craving?" to show and define that these many words are synonyms for craving in the category of craving, it was said, "Among them, the six based on household life," and so on. "Among them" means among those six forms and so on. "Six household-based mental pains" means six mental pains that arise dependent on the craving and affection occurring in the six forms and so on. This method applies to the rest as well. Since it might be asked, "Six household-based equanimities were also taught by the Blessed One, why were they not included?" it was said, "The six household-based equanimities are in the category of views." The meaning is that they were not included because they are in the category of views. 38. Since it might be asked, "How is only craving of the described kind taken?" it was said, "That very craving, in the form of aspiration," and so on. That very craving, of the described kind, because it occurs in the form of aspiration, is called by the synonym "delight." Because it delights in the phenomena that are objects like forms, it is called by the synonym "delight in phenomena." Because it dwells clinging to the phenomena that are objects like forms, as if swallowing and settling them, it is called by the synonym "clinging to phenomena." Therefore, these are synonyms for craving. The synonyms for craving were pointed out by the teacher, and are known by us. Since it should be asked, "What are the synonyms for consciousness?" it was said, "Consciousness, mind," and so on. The meaning, "It thinks of the object, therefore it is consciousness. It minds, it knows, therefore it is mind. It discerns, therefore it is discernment," and so on, is already stated in the treatises, therefore it is not elaborated by us. We will only state that these are the synonyms for this. "Faculty of wisdom, power of wisdom," and so on, are synonyms for wisdom. "A worthy one, perfectly enlightened," and so on, are synonyms for the Buddha. Since it should be asked, "Where were they taught?" it was said, "As stated in the recollection of the Buddha," and so on. In the teaching on the recollection of the Buddha, just as the Blessed One stated various kinds of synonyms, "Thus indeed is that Blessed One, Arahant... (etc.)... of the Blessed One," this kind of synonym is a synonym for the recollection of the Buddha. should be understood as "synonym of the Buddha." Similarly, in phrases like "as stated in the recollection of the Dhamma," the same method of connection should be applied. The meaning of the connection in phrases like "Therefore, it is said" and the meaning of the connection in phrases like "the synonymic method is employed" should be understood according to the method explained. Thus, the explanation of the synonymic method, composed according to the strength of one's ability, is completed. However, scholars should take the profound meaning by elaborating and dividing it according to the commentaries and sub-commentaries. 11. Explanation of the Designation Method 39. The explanation, which is a special kind of elucidation, by which synonyms are divided, that special kind of elucidation is complete. Because it is to be asked "What is the explanation of the designation method?", it is said "Among these, what is the designation method?" Here, "among these" means among the sixteen methods of teaching, such as the teaching method, what special kind of elucidation is called the designation method, the explanation of the designation method? It asks. The designation method, the explanation of the designation method, which is now being stated by me, beginning with "the teaching that is a natural discourse," is to be understood as the detailed special kind of elucidation of the statement "The Blessed One teaches one Dhamma by various designations." Because it is to be asked "By what various designations does the Blessed One teach one Dhamma? What are those various designations?", it is said "the teaching that is a natural discourse." Here, "by a natural discourse" means the teaching that places and establishes the intended meaning in the minds of the trainees by a Dhamma discourse that proceeds with the nature of the meaning, without determining a specific meaning of terms like "enjoyment," and with proper attention. Therefore, it is a designation of placement. The meaning is that he teaches the Dhamma by that designation. Because it is to be asked "What is that designation called 'the teaching that is a natural discourse'?", having asked thus, in order to show it in detail, it is said "And what is the teaching that is a natural discourse?" In the commentary, however, the meaning briefly stated as "the teaching that is a natural discourse" to divide it extensively, having asked, 'And what is the teaching of the natural discourse?' he said, 'The Four Noble Truths,' and so on. Here, even though there is no difference between the teaching and what is to be taught, by way of superimposition of non-difference, it is said, 'The teaching is the Four Noble Truths,' meaning that the designation of the four truths is called the teaching. Since it should be asked, 'How did the Blessed One declare that designation of the truths?' it is said, 'As the Blessed One declared.' As, in what manner, the Blessed One declared whatever designation, in that manner, that designation should be known. The designation 'This is suffering,' which the Blessed One declared, this designation 'This is suffering' is the designation of the inclusion of the five aggregates, the designation of the inclusion of the six elements, the designation of the inclusion of the eighteen elements, the designation of the inclusion of the twelve sense bases, the designation of the inclusion of the ten faculties— such a connection should be made. And the aggregates, elements, sense bases, and faculties are all mundane. They are brought to a unity by the common meaning of oppression, torment, and impermanence, and are called 'This is suffering.' Regarding the ten faculties: the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, female, male, life, mind, and feeling faculties. The feeling faculty is taken as one because of its single characteristic of experiencing; but the faith faculty and others are not taken because they are included in the path. In 'kabaḷīkāra,' in the nutrient called 'ojā' which is spoken of by way of superimposition of place, there is delight in the form of underlying tendency, or in the form of hope, or in the form of longing, because craving is not to be abandoned by the noble path. The same method applies to 'there is craving.' 'Established and grown' should be understood as both established and grown due to having attained the ability to attract rebirth. 'Of formations': of the formations that are the cause for the arising of existence which produces future becoming. 'Birth, old age, death': birth is the characteristic of arising, not merely production; old age is the characteristic of ripening, not merely duration; death is the characteristic of breaking up, not merely dissolution. a. Therefore it was said: "with sorrow, with fear, with despair." "If, monks, in the nutriment of contact... ...if, monks, in the nutriment of mental volition... ...if, monks, in the nutriment of consciousness there is lust... ...I declare," this designation is called the designation of origination, because it designates the origination of suffering. The classification of designations according to the round of rebirth was expounded by the Teacher, and understood by us. Because it is to be said: "How is the classification of designations expounded according to the turning away?" Therefore it was said: "If, monks, in the nutriment of physical food there is no lust," and so on. "In physical food... ...I declare, without despair," this designation is called the designation of full understanding, because it designates the full understanding of suffering. It is called the designation of abandoning, because it designates the abandoning of the origin. It is called the designation of development, because it designates the development of the path. It is called the designation of realization, because it designates the realization of cessation. 40. The classification of designations according to the turning away was expounded by the Teacher, and understood by us. Because it is to be said: "How is the classification of designations expounded according to comprehension?" Therefore it was said: "Develop concentration, monks," and so on. "Develop concentration, monks... ...he understands things as they are," this designation is called the designation of development, because it designates the development of the path. It is called the designation of full understanding, because it designates the full understanding of suffering. It is called the designation of abandoning, because it designates the abandoning of the origin. It is called the designation of realization, because it designates the realization of cessation. The classification of designations according to comprehension was expounded by the Teacher,