Page 22 - EH54

20 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

In the terse and difficult
Kaccayanagotta Sutta (Samyutta
Nikaya 12.15), the Buddha
describes samma ditthi not as
a guiding theory, but as the
transformation of perception that
results from living the dharma.
Speaking to Kaccayana, a disciple
famed for his knowledge of sacred
texts who later became one of the
most astute teachers of the dharma,
the Buddha says:
By and large, Kaccayana, this world
is in bondage to attachments,
clingings [sustenances], and
biases. But one such as this does
wholesome and unwholesome types and actions that spring from it, not get involved with or cling
are, as well as their roots. This is we are always aware of where we to these attachments, clingings,
long, hard work; it can take decades are coming from, of our starting fixations of awareness, biases, or
to get clarity about some things, if principles. The novelist Terry obsessions; nor is he resolved on
not lifetimes. Pratchett puts it eloquently in the “my self.” He has no uncertainty or
novel I Shall Wear Midnight: doubt that, when there is arising,
As we struggle to understand, only suffering is arising; and that
do we have to put everything in It is important that we know where when there is passing away, only
our life on hold in fear that if we we come from, because if you do not suffering is passing away. In this,
act without clarity we have a 50- know where you come from, then one’s knowledge is independent
50 chance of committing wrong you don’t know where you are, and of others. It is to this extent,
actions? Here it is useful to have a if you don’t know where you are, you Kaccayana, that there is right view.
framework of reasonable doctrines don’t know where you’re going. And
from a teacher we trust—not from if you don’t know where you’re going, In other words, the advanced
blind faith, but from confidence in you’re probably going wrong. practitioner understands
a teacher who has previously given attachment in such a way
us reason to trust them. It is like In contrast, the tendency of most that thoughts and feelings never
following the advice of a doctor who people is to live adrift in an ocean arise that might cause attachment.
has succeeded in healing us before. of unconsciously held opinions The knowledge is no longer
While we are following the doctor’s and assumptions. In this respect, theoretical, but perceptual. Our
instructions, we do not need to turn we reach samma ditthi when we practice transforms us into beings
off our critical intelligence—we become fully aware of what our who no longer see things in such
continue to test and investigate for thinking—and therefore our speech, a way as to become attached and
ourselves. In this case, the Buddha’s decisions, and actions—rests upon cause suffering. In this sense,
doctrines function something and grows from. This would result Samma ditthi is more than “right
like guidelines. We consciously in samma ditthi being translated view”; it is “perfected vision.” EH
hold and practice them, and as we as something like “completed
practice, we continually test them understanding.” But there is Source: Tricycle, USA. https://
and understand them more deeply. another aspect to the term ditthi, tricycle.org Nov 06, 2017
The great value of this is that in and that is its meaning as “vision.”
our thinking, and in the words