Letting Sitting Happen, from the Ground Up

Introduction The Eight Thoughts of a Great Person are the final chapter of Shobogenzo. And the last of the eight thoughts is in Sanskrit niṣprapañca. Nāgārjuna's writings might be supreme in clarifying what the Buddha really meant by this word niṣprapañca. Niṣprapañca means not objectifying/reifying anything. In light of the teaching that everything that happens is empty of self-existence, niṣprapañca means not spinning things into self-existence. Nāgārjuna is also peerless in his clarification of what the Buddha meant by the fertile phrase pratītya-samutpādaṁ, which describes everything that happens as "dependently arisen" or "conditionally originated" -- that is to say, as happened/happening (samutpāda) grounded in causality (pratītya). So first of all pratītya-samutpāda is a teaching about causality. At the same time, it can be heard as describing what happens when we s...

Mahā-Rāhulovāda-suttaṁ (MN 62) The Long Discourse Giving Advice to Rāhula Seeing What Happens (As Happening) Evaṁ me sutaṁ. Thus have I heard: Ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati At one time the Glorious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī Jeta-vane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. at Anāthapiṇḍika’s grounds in Jeta’s Wood. Atha kho Bhagavā pubbanha-samayaṁ nivāsetvā, Then the Glorious One, having dressed in the morning time, patta-cīvaraṁ ādāya Sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. and picked up his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Āyasmā pi kho Rāhulo pubbanha-samayaṁ nivāsetvā, Venerable Rāhula also, having dressed in the morning time, patta-cīvaraṁ ādāya Bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi. and picked up his bowl and robe, followed along close behind the Glorious One. Atha kho Bhagavā apaloketvā āyasmantaṁ Rāhulaṁ āmantesi: Then the Glorious One, looking back, addressed venerable Rāhula, saying: “Yaṁ kiñci Rāhula rūpaṁ atītānāgata-paccuppannaṁ, “Whatever physicality ...