Dhamma Principles › The Intermediate Repetition Series and the Chapter on Realisation: When You Don't Know, Seek a Teacher, Then Do the Work
The Intermediate Repetition Series and the Chapter on Realisation: When You Don't Know, Seek a Teacher, Then Do the Work
Practice

The Intermediate Repetition Series and the Chapter on Realisation: When You Don't Know, Seek a Teacher, Then Do the Work

Satthā pariyesitabbo

When one does not know and see as it really is, one should seek a teacher, and then practise training, exertion, desire, zeal, persistence, ardour, energy, perseverance, mindfulness, clear comprehension and heedfulness: twelve in all. The chapter also shows why seeing the Dhamma is worth it.

8 points

Towards the end of the Nidāna Saṃyutta, Saṃyutta Nikāya, come three short chapters in a row. In the Samaṇabrāhmaṇa Vagga, the Buddha says that ascetics or brahmins who do not understand ageing and death, its origin, its cessation and the way leading to its cessation are not regarded as ascetics among ascetics. He says the same of birth, existence, clinging and so on, down to volitional formations.

In the Antarapeyyāla, a series of abbreviated discourses, he says that one who does not know and see ageing and death as it really is should seek a teacher for knowledge of it, and applies the same pattern to every link of dependent origination and to all four noble truths. He then replaces "seek a teacher" with eleven other things to be done: training, exertion, desire to act, zeal, persistence, ardour, energy, perseverance, mindfulness, clear comprehension and heedfulness, making twelve headings in all.

The Abhisamaya Vagga follows. In the Nakhasikha Sutta, the Buddha picks up a little dust with his fingernail and compares it with the great earth: the suffering remaining for a noble disciple who has seen the Dhamma is as small as that dust. Several similar similes follow.

  1. 1

    A true ascetic knows suffering, its cause, its end and the way Samaṇesu ceva samaṇasammatā

    Ascetics or brahmins who understand ageing and death, its origin, its cessation and the way leading to its cessation are regarded as ascetics among ascetics, and realise the goal of the ascetic life by their own direct knowledge in this very life.

    Applying it in daily life

    When choosing a teacher or advisor, see whether they can explain the whole picture: what the problem is, what causes it, how it can end, and what needs to be done.

  2. 2

    When you don't know, seek a teacher Satthā pariyesitabbo

    One who does not know and see ageing and death as it really is should seek a teacher for knowledge of it as it really is, along with its origin, cessation and the way to its cessation. The same is said of each link, down to volitional formations.

    Applying it in daily life

    Admit honestly that there are things you don't yet understand, then actively look for someone who knows, both in Dhamma and in life, instead of going on guessing.

  3. 3

    With a teacher, you still have to train Sikkhā karaṇīyā

    The second heading changes "seeking a teacher" to "training". Knowledge of things as they are does not transfer from teacher to student by itself; the learner must do the training on each point.

    Applying it in daily life

    After a Dhamma talk or course, go back and reread, take notes, and try applying at least one point in real life that week.

  4. 4

    Exertion, desire to act and zeal Chando karaṇīyo

    After training come exertion (yoga), desire to act (chanda) and zeal, as things to be done for knowledge as it really is. Knowledge needs both motivation and the effort to act.

    Applying it in daily life

    If you lack energy for something, first find the reason you truly want to do it. Clear desire makes effort less of a struggle.

  5. 5

    Not giving up Appaṭivānī karaṇīyā

    Persistence, not turning back, is also on the list. This shows that learning the truth of life has hard stretches when we want to retreat, which is normal and worth preparing for.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you want to quit halfway, set a small condition: keep going for just one more day, then decide again tomorrow.

  6. 6

    Ardour, energy and perseverance Sātaccaṃ karaṇīyaṃ

    Ardour that burns up defilements (ātappa), energy (viriya) and continuous effort (sātacca) are listed one after the other. Effective effort isn't only strength; it has to be continuous.

    Applying it in daily life

    Doing a little every day beats doing a lot and then stopping for long. Ten minutes of meditation daily is better than an hour once a month.

  7. 7

    Mindfulness, clear comprehension and heedfulness Appamādo karaṇīyo

    The last three are mindfulness, clear comprehension and heedfulness. They keep all the preceding effort on track: knowing what you are doing and not letting time slip by uselessly.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before starting something important, ask yourself briefly, "What am I doing now, and why?" and ask again when you finish.

  8. 8

    Remaining suffering like dust on a fingernail Mahatthiyo kho bhikkhave dhammābhisamayo

    In the Nakhasikha Sutta, the Buddha picks up a little dust on his fingernail and says that the suffering already destroyed for a noble disciple who has seen the Dhamma is as great as the earth, while what remains, at most seven more lives, is as small as that dust. So great is the benefit of breaking through to the Dhamma and gaining the vision of the Dhamma.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you wonder whether studying the Dhamma is worth the time, recall this image. Even a beginning of right understanding can change the burden of a whole life.

Try it in daily life

The sequence in these chapters is a map for learning that fits any subject. It begins by admitting we don't yet know, then finding someone who truly knows. After that the work is ours, from study, intention and effort through to heedfulness. The teacher points the way; the other eleven are the learner's job.

The Samaṇabrāhmaṇa Vagga also helps in choosing a teacher. Someone worth listening to understands the problem, its cause, the way out and how to get there, not just someone with a title or a loud voice.

The Nakhasikha Sutta encourages us that the effort is worthwhile. The fruit of seeing the Dhamma is not small: it shrinks remaining suffering to almost nothing compared with what came before.

Sign in to keep track of what you have read

Sources in the Tipiṭaka

Tap to read the actual passage on the page cited.

Other principles worth reading

Log in to earn 40 merit points for reading this page