Pariyatti pati pati pati patipatti pativedha

[Bunjers]

This was a Pali expression used in a Ven. Viradhammo talk - Ajahn Viradhammo podcast 12/04/10 'Knowledge, Insight and Practice' (available here or on iTunes.)
"Study, practice, practice, practice, practice, develop insight."

Listen in at 20:00 min.:
"In the Pali you have this idea of pariyatti pati pati pati pati pati patipatti pativedha." So he does this amusing thing of repeating the practice word to emphasise it do people normally say it like that? hehe

This expression has actually already been discussed here but just thought I'd share.

Viradhammo says about the study bit (transcribed right from talk) "Study is not just books, it's like the naturalist studies the birds and so on. You study your own inner environment and then from that there's some sense of what's going on. Then there's the practice, the deepening of insight re-enforces it [the understanding.] It's a nice triad..."

Could you guys help me just break it down into its meanings? like, etymologically. the exact meanings of pari- yatti. pati- etc.
so, pari- prefix means 'all around?
pati- means... practice?
vedha obv. comes from knowledge, knowing, 'insight into,' as in the Vedas...

This is what I get from the Glossary of Pali

pariyatti: Theoretical understanding of Dhamma obtained through reading, study, and learning.

patipatti:
The practice of Dhamma, as opposed to mere theoretical knowledge (pariyatti).

pativedha:
Direct, first-hand realization of the Dhamma.


thanks v. much

[beeblebrox]

From the Digital Pali Reader:

paṭi = (directional prefix) back to; against; towards; in opposition to; opposite.
patti = 1. a foot-soldier; an infantry. 2. arrival; attainment; merit; profit; share.
vedha = piercing; shooting; pricking.

So maybe:

Paṭipatti = a foot-soldier against; or practice.
Paṭivedha = a piercing in towards to; or penetration.

Pariyatti is basically Scriptures, and its study. I don't think that the breakdown really shows this... seems like it has its own established definition.

[Bunjers]

thanks that cleared it up for me
interesting the possible meaning of 'foot soldier,' I guess you could say it's a kind of pun? perhaps another example the Buddha using military immagery/combative metaphor for spiritual practice... which would make sense with his Kshatriya background.
funny how paṭi can mean both 'towards' and 'in opposition to!??' It's a funny language with all that multiplicity of meaning! So now I understand words like 'Paṭimokkha,' towards enlightenment, very interesting