Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 5:25 pm Just recently, a thought occured to me that it is very fortunate for me to have some chances to get in touch with a little bit of Abhidhamma, making things really easy regarding interpretations of Dhamma readings. This thought formed after seeing the instances that even those very great minds of these (and recent) days who seemed not wanting to rely on abhidhamma usually ended up walking hazardously & laboriously on explanation about the attainments, on the verge of apparently contradicting the Buddha's teachings.
Yes, I like to say it againrobertk wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 3:40 amKilling does seem obvious but look at the debates we see about abortion or killing insects.You mean like knowing the difference between killing someone and... maybe not killing them?...Eko Care wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:25 am They are not just list of synonyms. They are the definitions. They are the interpretations of the words mentioned in all 3 Pitakas.
If one doesn't know the correct interpretation and definition, there is a risk for him to get caught up by incorrect and tricky interpretations.
The definitions make the understanding clearer.
Both the Theory and Practical are necessary in any field.
In the Introduction to the Vibhanga Iggelden writes:
“It is all very well to say ‘I know what needs to be done to break
the continuity of rebirth and death’. In fact very few people know of
even the most elementary reasons for the continuity of process, let
alone of breaking it. It is the detailed description, analysis and
reasons given for this cyclic process that the scriptures spend so
much care in putting before us.
It is all very well to say ‘What do I want to know all these
definitions of terms for, it only clutters the mind?’ The question is,
though, how many people when they seriously ask themselves as to the
extent and range of some such apparently simple terms as greed,
hatred and ignorance, can know their full and proper implications and
manifestations within their own thoughts and actions…This the
scriptures are at pains to make clear to even the dullest
reader…”.
He goes on in a similar vein for pages.
The Dhamma is above all for daily life but if not informed by correct theory one can follow paths that come to dead ends.
"It is all very well to say ‘I know what needs to be done to break the continuity of rebirth and death’.
In fact very few people know of even the most elementary reasons for the continuity of process,
let alone of breaking it".
Have I understood the the importance of Commentaries and Abhidhamma correctly?