What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Textual analysis and comparative discussion on early Buddhist sects and scriptures.
User avatar
DooDoot
Posts: 12032
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:06 pm

What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by DooDoot »

Dear forum

I was reading SN 12.51 and found the sutta difficult to follow. The sutta appears to begin & end with a standard description of dependent origination. However, in the middle, the sutta departs into a discussion about generating formations, as follows:
Avijjāgato yaṃ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo puññañce saṅkhāraṃ abhisaṅkharoti, puññūpagaṃ hoti viññāṇaṃ. Apuññañce saṅkhāraṃ abhisaṅkharoti, apuññūpagaṃ hoti viññāṇaṃ. Āneñjañce saṅkhāraṃ abhisaṅkharoti āneñjūpagaṃ hoti viññāṇaṃ. Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno avijjā pahīnā hoti vijjā uppannā, so avijjāvirāgā vijjuppādā neva puñ­ñābhi­saṅ­khā­raṃ abhisaṅkharoti na apuñ­ñābhi­saṅ­khā­raṃ abhisaṅkharoti na āneñ­jābhi­saṅ­khā­raṃ abhisaṅkharoti. Anabhi­saṅ­kha­ronto anabhi­sañ­ceta­yanto na kiñci loke upādiyati; anupādiyaṃ na paritassati, aparitassaṃ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati. ‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṃ brahmacariyaṃ, kataṃ karaṇīyaṃ, nāparaṃ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.

Bhikkhus, if a person immersed in ignorance generates a meritorious volitional formation, consciousness fares on to the meritorious; if he generates a demeritorious volitional formation, consciousness fares on to the demeritorious; if he generates an imperturbable volitional formation, consciousness fares on to the imperturbable. But when a bhikkhu has abandoned ignorance and aroused true knowledge, then, with the fading away of ignorance and the arising of true knowledge, he does not generate a meritorious volitional formation, or a demeritorious volitional formation, or an imperturbable volitional formation. Since he does not generate or fashion volitional formations, he does not cling to anything in the world. Not clinging, he is not agitated. Not being agitated, he personally attains Nibbāna. He understands: ‘Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.’

https://suttacentral.net/en/sn12.51
Now, in Pali, sankhara refers to many types of mental formations. For example, merely within the 12 conditions of dependent origination, at the very least, the conditions of ignorance, sankhara, components of nama-rupa such as volition, craving, attachment & becoming for most Buddhists would be regarded as types of mental formations, i.e., falling within the scope of sankhara khandha.

In SN 12.51, when reading the sutta superficially, based on its structure & emphasis, the impression is gained that meritorious, demeritorious & imperturbable formations are the 2nd condition of dependent origination. Thus, many scholars & commentaries follow this view.

However, when reading the sutta more carefully, the sutta states:
Since he does not generate or fashion volitional formations, he does not cling to anything in the world.
This sentence (which is common phrase in the suttas regarding contexts of clinging; e.g. MN 37; MN 140) also gives the impression meritorious, demeritorious & imperturbable formations might be the 9th condition of dependent origination, i.e., types of clinging (upadana).

Any opinions? What do we think about this?

:reading:
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by SarathW »

I quite did not understand your question.
Sankhara in DO includes both wholesome and unwholesome.
What if Dependent origination is started with wisdom instead of ignorance?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
DooDoot
Posts: 12032
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:06 pm

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by DooDoot »

SarathW wrote: Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:44 am I quite did not understand your question.
The question is do meritorious, demeritorious & imperturbable formations in SN 12.51 refer to types of clinging (upadana).
SarathW wrote: Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:44 amSankhara in DO includes both wholesome and unwholesome.
How?
SarathW wrote: Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:44 amWhat if Dependent origination is started with wisdom instead of ignorance?
It appears DO cannot start with wisdom because it is Dependent Cessation (DC) that starts with wisdom.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
User avatar
Zom
Posts: 2712
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 6:38 pm
Location: Russia, Saint-Petersburg
Contact:

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by Zom »

This sentence (which is common phrase in the suttas regarding contexts of clinging; e.g. MN 37; MN 140) also gives the impression meritorious, demeritorious & imperturbable formations might be the 9th condition of dependent origination, i.e., types of clinging (upadana).
Just as in the case with asserions like: "Ignorance leads to suffering" (or smth like that). Yes, it does, but at the same time this does not mean that "ignorance = birth because in 12-link scheme it is birth which is a condition for suffering" .)
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by SarathW »

It appears DO cannot start with wisdom because it is Dependent Cessation (DC) that starts with wisdom.
Thanks.
What is the Pali word for it?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by SarathW »

SarathW wrote: Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:44 amSankhara in DO includes both wholesome and unwholesome.
How?
============

It is. Can someone help?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
Nicolas
Posts: 1295
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:59 pm
Location: Somerville, MA, USA

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by Nicolas »

SarathW wrote: Thu Dec 28, 2017 5:21 am
SarathW wrote: Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:44 amSankhara in DO includes both wholesome and unwholesome.
How?
Bright kamma leads to bright result (i.e. pleasant birth), c.f. Ariyamagga Sutta AN 4.235 and most suttas that talk about kamma. DO describes all birth, and so all kamma that leads to birth, which includes wholesome kamma.
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by SarathW »

Thanks Nicolas. :D
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
DooDoot
Posts: 12032
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:06 pm

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by DooDoot »

Nicolas wrote: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:43 pmBright kamma leads to bright result (i.e. pleasant birth), c.f. Ariyamagga Sutta AN 4.235 and most suttas that talk about kamma. DO describes all birth, and so all kamma that leads to birth, which includes wholesome kamma.
Thanks Nicolas. However, for me, your reply does not answer the question, which is do those specific formations in SN 12.51 arise at the 2nd link or at the 9th link?
SarathW wrote: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:20 pm Thanks Nicolas. :D
Despite common ideas about it, I doubt kamma is sankhara (2nd link) in dependent origination because to be kamma it sounds far too early. For there to be ordinary kamma, I think there must be self-view & self-view appears to not arise until attachment (upadana).
Lord, who makes contact?"

"Not a valid question," the Blessed One said. "I don't say 'makes contact.' If I were to say 'makes contact,' then 'Who makes contact?' would be a valid question. But I don't say that. When I don't say that, the valid question is 'From what as a requisite condition comes contact?' And the valid answer is, 'From the six sense media as a requisite condition comes contact. From contact as a requisite condition comes feeling.'"

"Lord, who feels?"

"Not a valid question," the Blessed One said. "I don't say 'feels.' If I were to say 'feels,' then 'Who feels?' would be a valid question. But I don't say that. When I don't say that, the valid question is 'From what as a requisite condition comes feeling?' And the valid answer is, 'From contact as a requisite condition comes feeling. From feeling as a requisite condition comes craving.'"

"Lord, who craves?"

"Not a valid question," the Blessed One said. "I don't say 'craves.' If I were to say 'craves,' then 'Who craves?' would be a valid question. But I don't say that. When I don't say that, the valid question is 'From what as a requisite condition comes craving?' And the valid answer is, 'From feeling as a requisite condition comes craving. From craving as a requisite condition comes clinging/sustenance.'"

"Lord, who clings?"

"Not a valid question," the Blessed One said. "I don't say 'clings.' If I were to say 'clings,' then 'Who clings?' would be a valid question. But I don't say that. When I don't say that, the valid question is 'From what as a requisite condition comes clinging?' And the valid answer is, 'From craving as a requisite condition comes clinging. From clinging as a requisite condition comes becoming. From becoming as a requisite condition comes birth. From birth as a requisite condition, then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair come into play. Such is the origination of this entire mass of stress & suffering.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
Bhikshus,
dependent on the sensuality element [ignorance], perception of sensuality arises [sankhara];
dependent on perception of sensuality, sensual intention [nama-rupa] arises;
dependent on sensual intention, sensual desire [tanha] arises;
dependent on sensual desire, sensual passion arises;
dependent on sensual passion , sensual quest [upadana] arises;
engaged in the quest of sensuality, the uninstructed worldling conducts himself [bhava; kamma] wrongly in these three
ways—with the body, with speech, and with the mind

SN 14.12
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by SarathW »

1. As the 2nd link of the formula of dependent origination, (paṭiccasamuppāda, q.v.), saṅkhāra has the active aspect, 'forming, and signifies kamma (q.v.), i.e. wholesome or unwholesome volitional activity (cetanā) of body (kāya-s.), speech (vacī-s.) or mind (citta- or mano-s.). This definition occurs, e.g. at S. XII, 2, 27. For s. in this sense, the word 'kamma-formation' has been coined by the author. In other passages, in the same context, s. is defined by reference to (a) meritorious kamma-formations (puññābhisaṅkhāra), (b) demeritorious k. (apuññabhisaṅkhāra), (c) imperturbable k. (āneñjābhisaṅkhāra), e.g. in S. XII, 51; D. 33. This threefold division covers karmic activity in all spheres of existence: the meritorious kamma-formations extend to the sensuous and the fine-material sphere, the demeritorious ones only to the sensuous sphere, and the 'imperturbable' only to the immaterial sphere.

https://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_s.htm
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
DooDoot
Posts: 12032
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:06 pm

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by DooDoot »

SarathW wrote: Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:43 pm 1. As the 2nd link of the formula of dependent origination, (paṭiccasamuppāda, q.v.), saṅkhāra has the active aspect, 'forming, and signifies kamma (q.v.), i.e. wholesome or unwholesome volitional activity (cetanā) of body (kāya-s.), speech (vacī-s.) or mind (citta- or mano-s.). This definition occurs, e.g. at S. XII, 2, 27. For s. in this sense, the word 'kamma-formation' has been coined by the author. In other passages, in the same context, s. is defined by reference to (a) meritorious kamma-formations (puññābhisaṅkhāra), (b) demeritorious k. (apuññabhisaṅkhāra), (c) imperturbable k. (āneñjābhisaṅkhāra), e.g. in S. XII, 51; D. 33. This threefold division covers karmic activity in all spheres of existence: the meritorious kamma-formations extend to the sensuous and the fine-material sphere, the demeritorious ones only to the sensuous sphere, and the 'imperturbable' only to the immaterial sphere.

https://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_s.htm
This is just an opinion. I started the thread to examine SN 12.51 & to question the very quote you posted. I think SN 12.51 might deem the above quote to be wrong. For example, kamma in sensual, material & immaterials spheres sounds like "becoming", per AN 3.76.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by SarathW »

Now I see your point.
Sankhara is the past kamma.
Thanha, Upathdana and Bhava are present kamma.
See the chart on Page 337

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/buddh ... gsurw6.pdf
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
DooDoot
Posts: 12032
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:06 pm

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by DooDoot »

DooDoot wrote: Tue Dec 26, 2017 8:09 am... meritorious, demeritorious & imperturbable formations might be the 9th condition of dependent origination, i.e., types of clinging (upadana). Any opinions? What do we think about this?
I was browsing a book about Abidhamma yesterday, which (obviously correctly) said, in the context of dependent origination, the word 'sankhara' is the suttas is plural while the word 'sankhara' in Abidhamma is singular. This is because Abidhamma has the view that sankhara means meritorious, demeritorious & imperturbable formations and, since these are merely thought or volitional formations, only one type of (either meritorious, demeritorious or imperturbable) formation can arise in one moment. This seems to support the case that sankhara in the suttas, being plural, is not meritorious, demeritorious & imperturbable formations.

When sankhara (kaya, vaci & citta sankhara) are taken as defined in MN 44, all three sankhara can arise together.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
User avatar
Coëmgenu
Posts: 8150
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2016 10:55 pm
Location: Whitby, Canada

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by Coëmgenu »

DooDoot wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2018 2:32 am can arise in one moment
Are you of the opinion that cittakkhana in accordance with Theravāda Abhidhamma are discreet temporal units? Or are they a conceptual framework for stressing moment-to-moment (in a general sense, as in "any given frame of time") general impermanence?
What is the Uncreated?
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
User avatar
DooDoot
Posts: 12032
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:06 pm

Re: What are constructed formations in SN 12.51?

Post by DooDoot »

Coëmgenu wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:52 amAre you of the opinion that cittakkhana in accordance with Theravāda Abhidhamma are discreet temporal units? Or are they a conceptual framework for stressing moment-to-moment (in a general sense, as in "any given frame of time") general impermanence?
Thanks C but, sorry, I can't provide an opinion because I have not studied this matter. Yesterday, I read maybe four paragraphs of a book. But based on your description, cittakkhana sound like both of the above. Regards
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
Post Reply