Earlier Version of Fourth Jhana Formula in Rhino Horn Sutta?

Textual analysis and comparative discussion on early Buddhist sects and scriptures.
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waryoffolly
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Earlier Version of Fourth Jhana Formula in Rhino Horn Sutta?

Post by waryoffolly »

I ran across this very interesting passage which is a clear reference to fourth jhana in the rhinoceros horn sutta:

“Vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṁ dukhañca,
Pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṁ;
Laddhānupekkhaṁ samathaṁ visuddhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”


This passage is very interesting-it may be one of the earliest formulations of the fourth jhana, or perhaps even what the fourth jhana formulation was based on. Is there evidence in this passage (ie certain antiquated words etc) that it is from an older strata of the canon than the usual fourth jhana formula?

Something very interesting to note is that sati here is replaced by samatha!
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Assaji
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Re: Earlier Version of Fourth Jhana Formula in Rhino Horn Sutta?

Post by Assaji »

waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 6:38 pm I ran across this very interesting passage which is a clear reference to fourth jhana in the rhinoceros horn sutta:

“Vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṁ dukhañca,
Pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṁ;
Laddhānupekkhaṁ samathaṁ visuddhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”


This passage is very interesting-it may be one of the earliest formulations of the fourth jhana, or perhaps even what the fourth jhana formulation was based on.
This is explained in more detail in the Niddesa and the Commentary:

https://books.google.com/books?id=ftnADQAAQBAJ&pg=PA482
waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 6:38 pmIs there evidence in this passage (ie certain antiquated words etc) that it is from an older strata of the canon than the usual fourth jhana formula?
"Vipiṭṭhikatvāna" sounds peculiar and unusual, - the word "vipiṭṭhi" is used only in this sutta.

Dr. Bimala Churn Law mentioned this sutta in his chronological analysis:

https://obo.genaud.net/backmatter/appendixes/chron.htm
waryoffolly
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Re: Earlier Version of Fourth Jhana Formula in Rhino Horn Sutta?

Post by waryoffolly »

Assaji wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 7:16 pm
waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 6:38 pm I ran across this very interesting passage which is a clear reference to fourth jhana in the rhinoceros horn sutta:

“Vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṁ dukhañca,
Pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṁ;
Laddhānupekkhaṁ samathaṁ visuddhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”


This passage is very interesting-it may be one of the earliest formulations of the fourth jhana, or perhaps even what the fourth jhana formulation was based on.
This is explained in more detail in the Niddesa and the Commentary:

https://books.google.com/books?id=ftnADQAAQBAJ&pg=PA482
Thanks, it's interesting to note that the commentator takes pubbeva here to be in an 'expository sense' which Bhikkhu Bodhi's footnote tells us is 'in an indirect sense, in a way convenient for the purpose of exposition'. Afterwards the Niddesa then explains the explicit meaning by relying on SN 48.40's order of cessation. (So as with the Vimuttimagga, we have a case where the commentarial understanding depends on SN 48.40.). Anyways, the Niddesa explicitly ties this passage to the fourth jhana as expected. Somewhat tangentially, do you know the relative dates of the Petakopodesa and the Niddesa? (Which is earlier?)
waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 6:38 pmIs there evidence in this passage (ie certain antiquated words etc) that it is from an older strata of the canon than the usual fourth jhana formula?
"Vipiṭṭhikatvāna" sounds peculiar and unusual, - the word "vipiṭṭhi" is used only in this sutta.

Dr. Bimala Churn Law mentioned this sutta in his chronological analysis:

https://obo.genaud.net/backmatter/appendixes/chron.htm
Thanks!
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Assaji
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Re: Earlier Version of Fourth Jhana Formula in Rhino Horn Sutta?

Post by Assaji »

waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 7:47 pm Thanks, it's interesting to note that the commentator takes pubbeva here to be in an 'expository sense' which Bhikkhu Bodhi's footnote tells us is 'in an indirect sense, in a way convenient for the purpose of exposition'. Afterwards the Niddesa then explains the explicit meaning by relying on SN 48.40's order of cessation.
This is Commentary. Niddesa is much more concise, repeating the standard fourth jhāna formula:
153.
vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṃ.
laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhaṃ, eko care khaggavisāṇakappo.

vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassanti so paccekasambuddho sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṃ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṃ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṃ catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharatīti — vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṃ.

laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhanti. upekkhāti yā catutthajjhāne upekkhā upekkhanā ajjhupekkhanā cittasamatā cittappassaddhatā VAR majjhattatā cittassa. samathoti yā cittassa ṭhiti saṇṭhiti avaṭṭhiti avisāhāro VAR avikkhepo avisāhaṭamānasatā VAR samatho samādhindriyaṃ samādhibalaṃ sammāsamādhi; catutthajjhāne upekkhā ca samatho ca suddhā honti visuddhā pariyodātā anaṅgaṇā vigatūpakkilesā mudubhūtā kammaniyā ṭhitā āneñjappattā. laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhanti catutthajjhānaṃ upekkhañca samathañca laddhā labhitvā vinditvā paṭilabhitvāti — laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhaṃ, eko care khaggavisāṇakappo. tenāha so paccekasambuddho —

♦ “vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṃ.
♦ laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhaṃ, eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”ti.
waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 7:47 pmSomewhat tangentially, do you know the relative dates of the Petakopodesa and the Niddesa? (Which is earlier?)
Seems like Niddesa is a little earlier.
waryoffolly
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Re: Earlier Version of Fourth Jhana Formula in Rhino Horn Sutta?

Post by waryoffolly »

Assaji wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 8:20 pm
waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 7:47 pm Thanks, it's interesting to note that the commentator takes pubbeva here to be in an 'expository sense' which Bhikkhu Bodhi's footnote tells us is 'in an indirect sense, in a way convenient for the purpose of exposition'. Afterwards the Niddesa then explains the explicit meaning by relying on SN 48.40's order of cessation.
This is Commentary. Niddesa is much more concise, repeating the standard fourth jhāna formula:

153.
vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṃ.
laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhaṃ, eko care khaggavisāṇakappo.

vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassanti so paccekasambuddho sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṃ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṃ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṃ catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharatīti — vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṃ.

laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhanti. upekkhāti yā catutthajjhāne upekkhā upekkhanā ajjhupekkhanā cittasamatā cittappassaddhatā VAR majjhattatā cittassa. samathoti yā cittassa ṭhiti saṇṭhiti avaṭṭhiti avisāhāro VAR avikkhepo avisāhaṭamānasatā VAR samatho samādhindriyaṃ samādhibalaṃ sammāsamādhi; catutthajjhāne upekkhā ca samatho ca suddhā honti visuddhā pariyodātā anaṅgaṇā vigatūpakkilesā mudubhūtā kammaniyā ṭhitā āneñjappattā. laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhanti catutthajjhānaṃ upekkhañca samathañca laddhā labhitvā vinditvā paṭilabhitvāti — laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhaṃ, eko care khaggavisāṇakappo. tenāha so paccekasambuddho —

♦ “vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṃ dukhañca, pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṃ.
♦ laddhānupekkhaṃ samathaṃ visuddhaṃ, eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”ti.
Thanks for the correction!
waryoffolly wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 7:47 pmSomewhat tangentially, do you know the relative dates of the Petakopodesa and the Niddesa? (Which is earlier?)
Seems like Niddesa is a little earlier.
Interesting, makes me want to take a closer look at the Niddesa as well then. I haven't looked at it as much (if at all, I don't remember for sure) as the Petakopodesa.
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