Anupubbikathā
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anupubbikathā [alt. ānupubbikathā, ānupubbī-kathā] is translated as "gradual discourse,"[1] "gradual instruction,"[2] "progressive instruction,"[3] and "step-by-step talk"[4] etc.
Anupubbikathā is a type of discourse given by the Buddha when it was necessary to prepare the listener’s mind before speaking to them on the advanced teaching of the Four Noble Truths.[2]
According to the Buddhist Dictionary, the stock passage passage (e.g. DN 3; DN 14; MN 56) for this type of discourse states:
- Then the Blessed One gave him a gradual instruction — that is to say, he spoke on liberality (‘giving’, dāna, q.v.), on moral conduct (sīla) and on the heavens (sagga); he explained the peril, the vanity and the depravity of sensual pleasures, and the advantages of renunciation. When the Blessed One perceived that the listener’s mind was prepared, pliant, free from obstacles, elevated and lucid, then he explained to him that exalted teaching particular to the Buddhas (Buddhānaṃ sāmukkaṃsikā desanā), that is: suffering, its cause, its ceasing, and the path.[2]
In this way, the Buddhist taught in the following progression:
- Generosity (dāna)
- Virtue (sīla)
- Heaven (sagga)
- Danger of sensual pleasure (kāmānaṃ ādīnava)[5]
- Renunciation (nekkhamma)
- The Four Noble Truths (cattāri ariya-saccāni)
See also
Notes
- ↑ See Walshe (1995), p. 215.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nyanatiloka Thera 2019, s.v. ānupubbī-kathā.
- ↑ See Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001), p. 485.
- ↑ Thanissaro (1998).
- ↑ In regards to translating ādīnava, Bullitt uses the word "drawbacks" while Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001) use "danger" (p. 485), and Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25) recommend "disadvantage, danger" (p. 99, entry for "Ādīnava," retrieved 2007-11-13 from http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:2695.pali).
Sources
Nyanatiloka Thera (2019), Nyanaponika Thera, ed., Buddhist Dictionary: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, Pariyatti Publishing
Further reading
- Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2005). In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-491-1.
- Bullitt, John T. (2005). Dhamma. Retrieved 2007-11-08 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/index.html.
- Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu (trans.) & Bodhi, Bhikkhu (ed.) (2001). The Middle-Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-072-X.
- Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921–25). The Pali Text Society’s Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali Text Society. A general on-line search engine for the PED is available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997). Samaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Contemplative Life (DN 2). Retrieved 2007-11-11 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html.
- Thanissaro, Bhikkhu (trans.) (1998). Kutthi Sutta: The Leper (Ud. 5.3). Retrieved 2007-11-12 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.5.03.than.html.
- Walshe, Maurice (1995). The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Dīgha Nikāya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-103-3.
Anupubbikathā, Wikipedia
