Nettipakarana
Encyclopedia
The Nettipakarana is a Buddhist
scripture, sometimes included in the Khuddaka Nikaya
of Theravada
Buddhism's Pali Canon
.
Translation: The Guide, tr Nanamoli, 1962, Pali Text Society
http://www.palitext.com, Bristol.
The nature of the Netti is a matter of some disagreement among scholars. The translator, supported by Professor George Bond of Northwestern University, holds that it is a guide to help those who already understand the teaching present it to others. However, A. K. Warder, Professor Emeritus of Sanskrit at the University of Toronto, disagrees, maintaining that it covers all aspects of interpretation, not just this.
The Netti itself says that the methods were taught by the Buddha's disciple Kaccana (also Katyayana
or Kaccayana), and the colophon says he composed the book, that it was approved by the Buddha and that it was recited at the First Council
. Scholars do not take this literally, but the translator admits the methods may go back to him. The translator holds that the book is a revised edition of the Petakopadesa
, though this has been questioned by Professor von Hinüber. Scholars generally date it somewhere around the beginning of the common era.
The Netti was regarded as canonical by the head of the Burmese sangha around two centuries ago. It is included in the Burmese Phayre manuscript of the Canon, dated 1841/2, the inscriptions of the Canon approved by the Burmese Fifth Council
, the 1956 printed edition of the Sixth Council
, the new transcript of the Council text being produced under the patronage of the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand and the Sinhalese Buddha Jayanti edition of the Canon. A recent Burmese teacher has not regarded it as canonical.
The Nettipakarana is divided into:
The Uddesavāra gives three separate categories (Pali terms with Nanamoli's translations):
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
scripture, sometimes included in the Khuddaka Nikaya
Khuddaka Nikaya
The Khuddaka Nikaya is the last of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism...
of Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhism's Pali Canon
Pāli Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the only completely surviving early Buddhist canon, and one of the first to be written down...
.
Translation: The Guide, tr Nanamoli, 1962, Pali Text Society
Pali Text Society
The Pali Text Society was founded in 1881 by T.W. Rhys Davids "to foster and promote the study of Pali texts".Pali is the language in which the texts of the Theravada school of Buddhism is preserved...
http://www.palitext.com, Bristol.
The nature of the Netti is a matter of some disagreement among scholars. The translator, supported by Professor George Bond of Northwestern University, holds that it is a guide to help those who already understand the teaching present it to others. However, A. K. Warder, Professor Emeritus of Sanskrit at the University of Toronto, disagrees, maintaining that it covers all aspects of interpretation, not just this.
The Netti itself says that the methods were taught by the Buddha's disciple Kaccana (also Katyayana
Katyayana (Buddhist)
Katyayana was a disciple of Gautama Buddha.Katyayana, also known as Kaccana , Mahakatyayana, Mahakaccana and in Japanese as Kasennen, is one of the "Ten Disciples of the Buddha". [ Mahakashyapa, 2) Ananda, 3) Shariputra, 4) Subhuti, 5) Purna, 6) Mahamaudgalyayana, 7) Maha Katyayana, 8) Aniruddha,...
or Kaccayana), and the colophon says he composed the book, that it was approved by the Buddha and that it was recited at the First Council
Buddhist councils
Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist council Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist...
. Scholars do not take this literally, but the translator admits the methods may go back to him. The translator holds that the book is a revised edition of the Petakopadesa
Petakopadesa
The Petakopadesa is a Buddhist scripture, sometimes included in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism.Translation: Pitaka-Disclosure, tr Nanamoli, 1964, Pali Text Society, Bristol...
, though this has been questioned by Professor von Hinüber. Scholars generally date it somewhere around the beginning of the common era.
The Netti was regarded as canonical by the head of the Burmese sangha around two centuries ago. It is included in the Burmese Phayre manuscript of the Canon, dated 1841/2, the inscriptions of the Canon approved by the Burmese Fifth Council
Buddhist councils
Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist council Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist...
, the 1956 printed edition of the Sixth Council
Buddhist councils
Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist council Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist...
, the new transcript of the Council text being produced under the patronage of the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand and the Sinhalese Buddha Jayanti edition of the Canon. A recent Burmese teacher has not regarded it as canonical.
The Nettipakarana is divided into:
- Sangahavāra: collection of the contents
- Vibhāgavāra: the section which gives a systematic treatment in classified tables. This section contains three sub-sections:
- Uddesavāra
- Niddesavāra
- Patiniddesavāra
The Uddesavāra gives three separate categories (Pali terms with Nanamoli's translations):
- The sixteen hāras (conveyings, or modes of conveying) are : Desanā (teaching), vicaya (investigation), yutti (construing), Padatthāna (footings), Lakkhana (characteristics), Catuvyūha (fourfold array), Āvatta (conversion), Vibhatti (analysis), Parivattana (reversal), Vevacana (synonyms), Paññatti (descriptions), otarana (ways of entry), sodhana (clearing up), adhitthāna (terms of expression), parikkhāra (requisites), and samāropana (co-ordination).
- The five naya (guidelines) are : Nandiyāvatta (conversion of relishing); tipukkhala (trefoil); sīhavikkīlita (play of lions) ; disālocana (plotting of directions); ankusa (the hook).
- The eighteen mūlapadas consist of nine kusala and nine akusala.
- Nine akusala are
- Tanhā (craving), avijja (Ignorance),
- Lobha (greed), Dosa (Hate), Moha (Delusion),
- Subha saññā (perception of beauty), Nicca saññā (perception of permanence), Sukha saññā (perception of pleasure). Attasaññā (perception of self);
- Nine kusala are:
- samatha (quiet), vipassanā (insight),
- alobha (non-greed), adosa (non-hate), amoha (non-delusion),
- asubhasaññā (perception of ugliness), Dukkhasaññā (perception of pain), Aniccasaññā (perception of impermanence), and Anattasaññā (perception of not-self) etc.
- Nine akusala are