what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

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frank k
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what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by frank k »

http://notesonthedhamma.blogspot.com/20 ... -mean.html

excerpt:
what do these prefixes for jhāna mean?

pa-j-jhāyanti ni-j-jhāyanti a-paj-jhāyanti (a few suttas have ava-jhāyanti instead of 'a-paj')



'pa' often seems to be an amplifier or intensifier.

many of the suttas with ni-j-jhāna treat it like a first jhana with too much thinking reflecting on a view (ditthi).

What does 'ni' prefix mean in general, and what do you think it means here?
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by Ṭhānuttamo »

Hi Frank,
you surely have some lists of the different meanings that can be conveyed by the mentioned prefixes, but maybe some additional ones found in my grammar (Māgadhabhāsā, p. 123) can be helpful (?):

"pa: forth, specifically, up, away, the source, successively, chief, noble, clear, clean, inside, intensifier (e.g. pabbajati – 'goes forth')."
"ni: down, out, away, into, opposite of, without, lack of (e.g. nisīdati – 'sits down')."

A quick search also yielded this:

nijjhāyeyyāti olokeyya (SN-a). The word "oloketi" with the meaning "looks at".
pajjhāyīti vippaṭisāravasena vahacchinno viya gadrabho taṃ taṃ cintayi (Vin-a). The word "cintayati" here probably best to mean "worries", "griefs" (in the text as aorist of course).
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by frank k »

A. Bhikkhu wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 2:38 pm Hi Frank,
you surely have some lists of the different meanings that can be conveyed by the mentioned prefixes, but maybe some additional ones found in my grammar (Māgadhabhāsā, p. 123) can be helpful (?):

"pa: forth, specifically, up, away, the source, successively, chief, noble, clear, clean, inside, intensifier (e.g. pabbajati – 'goes forth')."
"ni: down, out, away, into, opposite of, without, lack of (e.g. nisīdati – 'sits down')."

A quick search also yielded this:

nijjhāyeyyāti olokeyya (SN-a). The word "oloketi" with the meaning "looks at".
pajjhāyīti vippaṭisāravasena vahacchinno viya gadrabho taṃ taṃ cintayi (Vin-a). The word "cintayati" here probably best to mean "worries", "griefs" (in the text as aorist of course).

How do you interpret nijjhāna? not-jhana? away from jhana?
In the searches, the most common usage of that is with diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā (36), people usually translate as "view arrived at after reflection".
But MN 70 has a really interesting use with
dhammānaṃ atthaṃ upaparikkhati, atthaṃ upaparikkhato dhammā nijjhānaṃ khamanti, dhammanijjhānakkhantiyā
Which makes me think one actually starts out from some kind of jhāna (either right jhāna, or wrong jhāna obsessively focussed), then moves away from said jhāna to reflect on views or establish understandig of Dhamma.
upaparikkhati (upa + pari + ikkhati) is a close relative, perhaps a more thorough version of the upekkha (upa + ikkhati) of the 4th jhāna.
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by Ṭhānuttamo »

frank k wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:20 pm How do you interpret nijjhāna? not-jhana? away from jhana?
I would say that the commentarial explanation fits also the contexts you have quoted and that it doesn't mean "not-jhāna." Oloketi (and by extension nijjhāyati as a given synonym) can mean, e.g.: "looks (at)," "looks down (at)," "examines," "checks." This is what DOP Vol. II, s.v. nijjhāyati has: "looks at," "observes carefully," "scrutinizes," "reflects on," "meditates (on)."

I think it is also important to be wary of not to step into an etymological fallacy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymological_fallacy), i.e. trying to pinpoint a meaning by means of grammatical parsing; it should be the last resort to arrive at a meaning, after considering the context.
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by frank k »

This refrain appears in all suttas of SN 43 ("sit at root of tree, do jhāna")
(DPR online)
SN 4, 9. asaṅkhatasaṃyuttaṃ, 1. paṭhamavaggo, 1. kāyagatāsatisuttaṃ SN 43.1, para. 2 ⇒
“iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṃ vo mayā asaṅkhataṃ, desito asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. yaṃ, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṃ sāvakānaṃ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṃ upādāya, kataṃ vo taṃ mayā. etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. jhāyatha {nijjhāyatha (ka.)}, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. ayaṃ vo amhākaṃ anusāsanī”ti. paṭhamaṃ.
Is that Nij-jhāna comment in parenthesis saying that nij-jhāna is an accepted variant for the 'do jhāna' part?


A. Bhikkhu wrote: Sat Apr 23, 2022 11:52 am
frank k wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:20 pm How do you interpret nijjhāna? not-jhana? away from jhana?
I would say that the commentarial explanation fits also the contexts you have quoted and that it doesn't mean "not-jhāna." Oloketi (and by extension nijjhāyati as a given synonym) can mean, e.g.: "looks (at)," "looks down (at)," "examines," "checks." This is what DOP Vol. II, s.v. nijjhāyati has: "looks at," "observes carefully," "scrutinizes," "reflects on," "meditates (on)."

I think it is also important to be wary of not to step into an etymological fallacy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymological_fallacy), i.e. trying to pinpoint a meaning by means of grammatical parsing; it should be the last resort to arrive at a meaning, after considering the context.
Don't worry, I'm not drawing any firm conclusions based on grammar. But I do feel the existing translations are missing something.
Even in the context of just "looks at, examine", seems insufficient for the context of the 5 wrong jhānas based on the 5 hindrances, or the animals hunting for food. It takes more than just 'looking at' to hunt an animal, it's quite a complex task, requiring jhānic level of focus and discernment.
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by Ṭhānuttamo »

SN 4, 9. asaṅkhatasaṃyuttaṃ, 1. paṭhamavaggo, 1. kāyagatāsatisuttaṃ SN 43.1, para. 2 ⇒
“iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṃ vo mayā asaṅkhataṃ, desito asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. yaṃ, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṃ sāvakānaṃ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṃ upādāya, kataṃ vo taṃ mayā. etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. jhāyatha {nijjhāyatha (ka.)}, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. ayaṃ vo amhākaṃ anusāsanī”ti. paṭhamaṃ.

Is that Nij-jhāna comment in parenthesis saying that nij-jhāna is an accepted variant for the 'do jhāna' part?
Interesting occurrence. It seems to be as you suggest ... Fits squarely with the last DOP entry then.
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by frank k »

https://lucid24.org/tped/n/nijjhana/index.html
I just did a comprehensive study the past few days, that's every occurence of 'nijjhā' in the nikāyas.
I'll be writing up my conclusion of that study in the next day or so.
(the study contains passage excerpts and links directly to the sutta)
here is the table of contents:

4👑☸ → EBpedia📚 → ni-j-jhāna 🔝
ni-j-jhāna
DPR Search for: nijjhā
sorted
DN 1 upanijjhāyantā, gazing at each other
DN 24 same as DN 1, ‘gazing at each other’
DN 27 upanijjhāyati, men and women gazing at each other
MN 22 using upekkha to examine Dharma and nij-jhāna to accept with wisdom
MN 48 nijjhāpenti, monks persuading each other. jhāpeti = start fire
MN 50 comparing jhāna monks to animals hunting
MN 70 Dharma follower using nij-jhāna acceptance with wisdom
MN 95 limitations of nij-jhāna acceptance of view
MN 95 awakening to truth with upekkha and dhamma nijjhāna
MN 101 diṭṭhi nij-jhāna, like thinking, can be unreliable
MN 102 diṭṭhi nij-jhāna wrong views of other brahmans
MN 102 diṭṭhi nij-jhāna wrong views, in contrast with fake nirvana and real nirvana
MN 108 wrong jhānas based on 5niv, versus right four jhānas
MN 128 ati-nij-jhāyitattaṃ excessive gazing of visible form, prevents 4 jhānas
SN 12.68 diṭṭhi nij-jhāna view contrasted against knowing and seeing of an arahant
SN 22.95 nij-jhāna with upekkha contemplating 5 aggregates and emptiness, 5 khandha similes
SN 22.95 implies jhāna ≡ nij-jhāna in this context
SN 25.1 Dhamma follower seeing impernanence of 6 internal senses: nij-jhāna done with some degree of pañña leads to stream entry before death.
SN 25.2 same Dharma follower passage as SN 25.1 applied to 6 external sense fields
SN 25.10 same Dharma follower passage as SN 25.1 applied to 5 aggregates
SN 35.153 diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā not sufficient for realizing arahant
SN 43.1 “sit at tree and do jhāna refrain for all suttas in SN 43 has ‘nij-jhāna’ variant
SN 55.24 dhammā paññāya mattaso nijjhānaṃ khamanti, bound for stream entry
SN 55.25 same dhamma follower passage as SN 55.24
AN 2.51 nijjhāpenti na ca nijjhattiṃ, persuasion and convincing
AN 3.65 diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, reflective acceptance of view
AN 3.66 Salha sutta, same as AN 3.66 with different person
AN 3.156 nijjhāmā = scorching, naked ascetic practice
AN 4.193 diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, don’t rely on logic, thinking...
AN 6.46 scholar monks deriding jhāna monks with pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti avajjhāyanti.
AN 7.50 breach of celibacy, “gazing upon” cakkhuṃ upanijjhāyati pekkhati
AN 10.33 persuading and seeing: nijjhāpetuṃ pekkhetuṃ
AN 11.9 simile of horse, wrong jhāna based on 5 hindrances
KN Snp 3.12 upanijjhāyitaṁ obsessive focus gazing upon
KN 6.84
KN 7.37
KN 10.8
KN 10.78
KN 10.192
KN 10.192
KN 10.403
KN 10.421
KN 10.441
KN 10.446
KN 10.485
KN 10.487
KN 10.560
KN 14.378
KN 14.454
KN 15.543
KN 15.550
KN 15.550
KN 15.559
KN Pe accepting view diṭṭhinijjhāyanā
KN Pe accepting view diṭṭhinijjhāyanā
KN Pe accepting view through faith diṭṭhinijjhāyanā
KN Pe pondering and view diṭṭhinijjhāyanā
KN Pe pondering dharmas diṭṭhinijjhāyanā

A. Bhikkhu wrote: Sat Apr 23, 2022 12:29 pm
SN 4, 9. asaṅkhatasaṃyuttaṃ, 1. paṭhamavaggo, 1. kāyagatāsatisuttaṃ SN 43.1, para. 2 ⇒
“iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṃ vo mayā asaṅkhataṃ, desito asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. yaṃ, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṃ sāvakānaṃ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṃ upādāya, kataṃ vo taṃ mayā. etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. jhāyatha {nijjhāyatha (ka.)}, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. ayaṃ vo amhākaṃ anusāsanī”ti. paṭhamaṃ.

Is that Nij-jhāna comment in parenthesis saying that nij-jhāna is an accepted variant for the 'do jhāna' part?
Interesting occurrence. It seems to be as you suggest ... Fits squarely with the last DOP entry then.
Especially SN 22.95 really makes it clear nij-jhāna equivalent to 4 jhānas in some contexts, otherwise it would be talking about arahants who used a special nijjhāna that wasn't 4 jhanas to attain arahanthship. And that the contemplation of 5 aggregates as impermanent and empty was done with a dry vipassana nij-jhāna.
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by frank k »

A. Bhikkhu wrote: Sat Apr 23, 2022 12:29 pm ...
Bhante, how do you grammatically break down the difference between
diṭṭhi nij-jhāna khanti
and
dhamma nij-jhāna khanti?

The former is used in the passages where hearsay, deep thought, logic, and diṭṭhi nij-jhāna khanti are not reliable means to establish the nature of Dharma, and are referring to non-arahants, non-ariya, sometimes non-buddhists.

Whereas the passages that have 'dhamma nij-jhāna khanti' involve arahants, and sometimes knowing, seeing, pañña to reinforce it's quite a different thing than diṭṭhi nij-jhāna khanti

Even without breaking down the grammar accurately, from my study looking at every single usage of nij-jhāna
https://lucid24.org/tped/n/nijjhana/index.html
it's clear that nij-jhāna in every single case is a strong, focused meditative attention and often equivalent to jhāna.

The current translations of those two expressions leave much to be desired (Bodhi, Sujato, maybe Thanissaro as well), do not show any connection to meditation and jhāna.

A more accurate translation and interpretation of the phrases would be something more like:
diṭṭhi nij-jhāna khanti = one meditates on a view, then accepts the truth of that view.
dhamma nij-jhāna khanti = one meditates on a Dharma, then accepts the truth of that Dharma.

But grammatically, I'm not sure which adjectives are modifying each other.
Thoughts?

B. Bodhi translation
“Come, Sāḷha, do not go by oral tradition, by lineage of teaching, by hearsay, by a collection of scriptures, by logical reasoning, by inferential reasoning, by reasoned cogitation, by the acceptance of a view after pondering it, by the seeming competence [of a speaker], or because you think: ‘The ascetic is our guru.’ But when you [194] know for yourselves: ‘These things are unwholesome; these things are blameworthy; these things are censured by the wise; these things, if accepted and undertaken, lead to harm and suffering,’ then you should abandon them.
pali
♦ “etha tumhe, kālāmā, mā anussavena, mā paramparāya, mā itikirāya, mā piṭakasampadānena, mā takkahetu, mā nayahetu, mā ākāraparivitakkena, mā diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, mā bhabbarūpatāya, mā samaṇo no garūti. yadā tumhe, kālāmā, attanāva jāneyyātha — ‘ime dhammā akusalā, ime dhammā sāvajjā, ime dhammā viññugarahitā, ime dhammā samattā samādinnā {samādiṇṇā (ka.)} ahitāya dukkhāya saṃvattantī’”ti, atha tumhe, kālāmā, pajaheyyātha.

Thanissaro
The criterion for rejection
4. "It is proper for you, Kalamas, to doubt, to be uncertain; uncertainty has arisen in you about what is doubtful. Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias toward a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are bad; these things are blamable; these things are censured by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill,' abandon them.
Based on their translations, I think I got the grammar correct. But their use of 'pondering' for 'nij-jhāna' misses the jhānic connection. Just reading the English, you'd think they were talking about vitakka, vicāra, pari-vitakka, pa-vitakka, vimamsa, anu-vitakka, anu-vicāra, for example.
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Re: what do these prefixes for jhāna mean? Jhāyanti pajjhāyanti nijjhāyanti apajjhāyanti

Post by frank k »

ni-j-jhāna: jhāna means meditation, so does ni-j-jhāna.
✅ jhāna means 'meditation' with singular focus. ni-j-jhāna is nearly synonymous. See SN 22.95.
⛔ nijjhāna does not mean 'gazing'. Gazing with the eyes is a superficial aspect that may or may not accompany nijjhāna.

diṭṭhi ni-j-jhāna khanti: meditating on a view, then accepting it as true.
dhammā ni-j-jhānaṃ khamanti: meditating on Dharma, then accepting it as true. See MN 70 and MN 95.
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