Dearest thomaslaw: now that I have your attention, I have a question for you.
Since you are a fan of Samyutta Nikaya, perhaps you can help me out. I was intrigued by the fact that, that
- the four similes for the four jhanas are never found in the Samyutta Nikaya.
Only recently did it come to my attention.
I looked up the Jhana samyutta in the SN. It is almost like an empty house, nothing significant can be found there.
I looked for other descriptions of jhana there. Only
Moggallana Samyutta and Citta Samyutta
have any descriptions of the kind we read in Middle length and Long Length.
The formulaic descriptions of jhana? were they concocted by abhidhammikas.
Do you know any other suttas in SN that contain the words Viatka, Vicara, in relation to jhana, other than the suttas of Moggallana and Citta samyutta,
- which are both late entrants to the game.
Scholars have said as much.
I don't believe a single sutta in the Moggallana Samyutta. It makes Moggalanna look like a bit of an awkward person, (Buddha had to pull ears) to wake him up as he was nodding off, during jhana.
Who makes up stuff like this, and gets them included in such an esteemed journal? I mean Tripitaka?
Only a powerful compiler could, like the ones who complied the bogus sutta DN 22, and its MN partner.
Anyways the reason I am upset about Moggallana Samyutta is this. Did he deserve this?
According to elsewhere in the canon he was the world's topmost expert in Jhana, who was given the task of training novice monks, after Sariputta was done with them. Sariputta trained them in the Doctrinal aspects, to bring them up to Stream entry. Moggallana trained them in jhana or Samadhi, to bring them up to Arahant level.
I trust the original translation of Vinaya Pitaka.
According to the original translation Moggallana and Sariputta were already Arahants by the time they met the Buddha. Before meeting Buddha V. Assaji had taught them how things originate.
Did a chief disciple deserve his 'ear pulled' by the Buddha? Did the Arahant nod off?
Can you help me out here, since you are an expert on Samyutta Nikaya?
With love