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Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta

January 01, 1970

The Vitakkasanthana Sutta (MN 20) (The Removal of Distracting Thoughts) is the 20th discourse in Majjhima Nikaya of Pāli Canon in Theravada Buddhism.

In the Theravadin Tipitaka, the Vitakka-saṇṭhāna Sutta is the twentieth discourse in the Majjhima Nikaya (MN) and is thus often designated by "MN 20"; in the Pali Text Society (PTS) edition of the Canon, this text begins on the 118th page of the first volume of its three-volume Majjhima Nikaya (M), and is thus alternately represented as "M i 118".

Title and content edit

English translations[1] have employed several different titles for the Vitakka-saṇṭhāna Sutta, including The Removal of Distracting Thoughts,[2][3] The Discursively Thinking Mind,[4] and The Relaxation of Thoughts.[5]

The Vitakka-saṇṭhāna Sutta describes five approaches for overcoming negative thoughts. Translators into English have used different terms to designate the purpose, nature, and components of these approaches. One translation begins by stating that

When a monk is intent on the heightened mind, there are five themes he should attend to at the appropriate times.[5]

Other translators or commentators refer to five "things,"[2][4] "signs,"[3]: 211  or "strategies".[6]: 128  The purpose of these five approaches is variously described as attaining "higher consciousness,"[2] "higher mind,"[3]: 211  "developing the mind",[4] "heightened mind",[5] or "freedom".[6]: 128  To implement these approaches, one is enjoined to "reflect on",[2] "give attention to",[3]: 211  "attend to",[4][5] or "employ"[6]: 128  each approach.

 
Smaller and larger (finer and coarser) wooden pegs used by carpenters

In describing the first of the five approaches, the sutta uses the analogy of a carpenter's peg. In the language of one translation, when the mind has become filled with hatred or illusion by dwelling on a bad ("adventitious") object, the aspirant (bhikku) should replace the bad thought with a good ("skilled") thought (Pali: tato nimittato aññam nimittam):

Like an experienced carpenter or carpenter's apprentice, striking hard at, pushing out, and getting rid of a coarse peg with a fine one, should the bhikkhu in order to get rid of the adventitious object, reflect on a different object which is connected with skill.[2]

If thoughts still arise that are "negative"[6]: 128  or "evil"[2][5][3]: 211 [4] and "unskilled",[2][5] "unwholesome",[3]: 211  or "demeritorious,"[4] the second recommended approach is as follows: The aspirant should "reflect on the consequences",[6]: 133  "ponder on the disadvantages"[2] "examine the danger[s]",[3]: 211 [4] or "scrutinize the drawbacks"[5] of such thoughts (Pali: manasikatabbam).

If negative thoughts still continue to arise, the third approach is "withdrawing attention"[6]: 135  — that is, the aspirant should "not attend",[4] "not give attention",[3]: 212  "be without attention and reflection",[2] "pay no mind and pay no attention",[5] or even "forget"[3]: 212  such thoughts.

If the third approach fails to eliminate negative thoughts, the fourth approach involves going "to the root"[6]: 138  (Pali: vitakka mula bheda pabbam) by "stilling the thought-formation",[3]: 212  "removal of the (thought) source of those unskillful thoughts",[2] "appeasing the whole intentional thought process",[4] or engaging in "the relaxing of thought-fabrication".[5] The sutta compares this to stages of removing the source of physical movement:

Just as a man walking fast might consider: 'Why am I walking fast? What if I walk slowly?' and he would walk slowly; then he might consider: 'Why am I walking slowly? What if I stand?' and he would stand; then he might consider: 'Why am I standing? What if I sit?' and he would sit; then he might consider: 'Why am I sitting? What if I lie down?' and he would lie down. By doing so he would substitute for each grosser posture one that was subtler. So too...when a bhikkhu gives attention to stilling the thought-formation of those thoughts...his mind becomes steadied internally, quieted, brought to singleness, and concentrated.[3]: 212 

The fifth approach (Pali: abhinigganhitabbam; Sanskrit: abhinigrahā),[6]: 143  to be pursued when the fourth and all previous approaches together fail to eliminate negative thoughts, is to clench the teeth and "subdue and beat down the (evil) mind by the (good) mind",[2] just as one man may do physical violence to another man.[2][3]

Commentaries and translations edit

A commentary on the Vitakkasanthana Sutta was provided in Part III of Conquest of Mind by Eknath Easwaran (1988).[6]

Several English translations have been done of the Vitakka-saṇṭhāna Sutta, including:

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ A version of the Pali original of the Majjhima Nikaya, including the Vitakkasanthana Sutta (pp. 103-105), is available in Gotama, Buddha (2012). Majjhima Nikaya: The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1478369622. ISBN 1478369620
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "The Removal of Distracting Thoughts" (Soma Thera, 1960/1981), OCLC 40612150 (accessed 4 January 2013)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ñāṇamoli, Bhikku; Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005). The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya (3rd ed.). Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications. pp. 211–214. ISBN 086171072X. (original publication 1995) Also online HERE (accessed 4 January 2013)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Discursively Thinking Mind" (Sister Uppalavanna) (accessed 4 January 2013)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Relaxation of Thoughts" (Thanissaro Bhikkhu, 1997) (accessed 4 January 2013)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Easwaran, Eknath (2010). Conquest of mind: take charge of your thoughts & reshape your life through meditation (3rd, revised ed.). Petaluma, CA: Nilgiri Press. ISBN 9781586380472. ISBN 1586380478, OCLC 500801448 Original publication: Easwaran, Eknath (1988). Conquest of mind (1st ed.). Petaluma, CA: Nilgiri Press. ISBN 0915132508. ISBN 0915132516, OCLC 18520298

External links edit

  • Pali text (transliterated) (beginning at 1.2.10)

January 01, 1970
vitakkasaṇṭhāna, sutta, vitakkasanthana, sutta, removal, distracting, thoughts, 20th, discourse, majjhima, nikaya, pāli, canon, theravada, buddhism, theravadin, tipitaka, vitakka, saṇṭhāna, sutta, twentieth, discourse, majjhima, nikaya, thus, often, designated. The Vitakkasanthana Sutta MN 20 The Removal of Distracting Thoughts is the 20th discourse in Majjhima Nikaya of Pali Canon in Theravada Buddhism In the Theravadin Tipitaka the Vitakka saṇṭhana Sutta is the twentieth discourse in the Majjhima Nikaya MN and is thus often designated by MN 20 in the Pali Text Society PTS edition of the Canon this text begins on the 118th page of the first volume of its three volume Majjhima Nikaya M and is thus alternately represented as M i 118 Contents 1 Title and content 2 Commentaries and translations 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksTitle and content editEnglish translations 1 have employed several different titles for the Vitakka saṇṭhana Sutta including The Removal of Distracting Thoughts 2 3 The Discursively Thinking Mind 4 and The Relaxation of Thoughts 5 The Vitakka saṇṭhana Sutta describes five approaches for overcoming negative thoughts Translators into English have used different terms to designate the purpose nature and components of these approaches One translation begins by stating that When a monk is intent on the heightened mind there are five themes he should attend to at the appropriate times 5 Other translators or commentators refer to five things 2 4 signs 3 211 or strategies 6 128 The purpose of these five approaches is variously described as attaining higher consciousness 2 higher mind 3 211 developing the mind 4 heightened mind 5 or freedom 6 128 To implement these approaches one is enjoined to reflect on 2 give attention to 3 211 attend to 4 5 or employ 6 128 each approach nbsp Smaller and larger finer and coarser wooden pegs used by carpentersIn describing the first of the five approaches the sutta uses the analogy of a carpenter s peg In the language of one translation when the mind has become filled with hatred or illusion by dwelling on a bad adventitious object the aspirant bhikku should replace the bad thought with a good skilled thought Pali tato nimittato annam nimittam Like an experienced carpenter or carpenter s apprentice striking hard at pushing out and getting rid of a coarse peg with a fine one should the bhikkhu in order to get rid of the adventitious object reflect on a different object which is connected with skill 2 If thoughts still arise that are negative 6 128 or evil 2 5 3 211 4 and unskilled 2 5 unwholesome 3 211 or demeritorious 4 the second recommended approach is as follows The aspirant should reflect on the consequences 6 133 ponder on the disadvantages 2 examine the danger s 3 211 4 or scrutinize the drawbacks 5 of such thoughts Pali manasikatabbam If negative thoughts still continue to arise the third approach is withdrawing attention 6 135 that is the aspirant should not attend 4 not give attention 3 212 be without attention and reflection 2 pay no mind and pay no attention 5 or even forget 3 212 such thoughts If the third approach fails to eliminate negative thoughts the fourth approach involves going to the root 6 138 Pali vitakka mula bheda pabbam by stilling the thought formation 3 212 removal of the thought source of those unskillful thoughts 2 appeasing the whole intentional thought process 4 or engaging in the relaxing of thought fabrication 5 The sutta compares this to stages of removing the source of physical movement Just as a man walking fast might consider Why am I walking fast What if I walk slowly and he would walk slowly then he might consider Why am I walking slowly What if I stand and he would stand then he might consider Why am I standing What if I sit and he would sit then he might consider Why am I sitting What if I lie down and he would lie down By doing so he would substitute for each grosser posture one that was subtler So too when a bhikkhu gives attention to stilling the thought formation of those thoughts his mind becomes steadied internally quieted brought to singleness and concentrated 3 212 The fifth approach Pali abhinigganhitabbam Sanskrit abhinigraha 6 143 to be pursued when the fourth and all previous approaches together fail to eliminate negative thoughts is to clench the teeth and subdue and beat down the evil mind by the good mind 2 just as one man may do physical violence to another man 2 3 Commentaries and translations editA commentary on the Vitakkasanthana Sutta was provided in Part III of Conquest of Mind by Eknath Easwaran 1988 6 Several English translations have been done of the Vitakka saṇṭhana Sutta including The Removal of Distracting Thoughts Soma Thera 1960 1981 2 The Removal of Distracting Thoughts Nanamoli Bhikkhu amp Bhikkhu Bodhi 2005 3 as part of a translation of the entire Majjhima Nikaya The Discursively Thinking Mind Sister Uppalavanna 4 as part of a translation of the entire Majjhima Nikaya The Relaxation of Thoughts Thanissaro Bhikkhu 1997 5 See also editList of Majjhima Nikaya suttasReferences edit A version of the Pali original of the Majjhima Nikaya including the Vitakkasanthana Sutta pp 103 105 is available in Gotama Buddha 2012 Majjhima Nikaya The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN 978 1478369622 ISBN 1478369620 a b c d e f g h i j k l m The Removal of Distracting Thoughts Soma Thera 1960 1981 OCLC 40612150 accessed 4 January 2013 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Naṇamoli Bhikku Bhikkhu Bodhi 2005 The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya 3rd ed Somerville MA Wisdom Publications pp 211 214 ISBN 086171072X original publication 1995 Also online HERE accessed 4 January 2013 a b c d e f g h i j The Discursively Thinking Mind Sister Uppalavanna accessed 4 January 2013 a b c d e f g h i j The Relaxation of Thoughts Thanissaro Bhikkhu 1997 accessed 4 January 2013 a b c d e f g h i Easwaran Eknath 2010 Conquest of mind take charge of your thoughts amp reshape your life through meditation 3rd revised ed Petaluma CA Nilgiri Press ISBN 9781586380472 ISBN 1586380478 OCLC 500801448 Original publication Easwaran Eknath 1988 Conquest of mind 1st ed Petaluma CA Nilgiri Press ISBN 0915132508 ISBN 0915132516 OCLC 18520298External links editPali text transliterated beginning at 1 2 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vitakkasaṇṭhana Sutta amp oldid 1210681728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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