Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

The Five Methods 291TWO WAYS OF GRASPING OFTHOUGHT-CHARACTERISTICSAnd again, through two ways one grasps the characteristics of thought:through object and through taking to heart. Q. How does one grasp thecharacteristics of thought through the object? A. Thought arises owing toobject. One should grasp that. "Through this form-object, feeling-object,perception-object, formation-object, and consciousness-object, thought arises",—thus one grasps. This is the grasping of the characteristics of thought throughthe object. Q. How does one grasp the characteristics of thought throughtaking to heart? A. "Through taking to heart, thought arises",—thus oneshould consider. "Through taking feeling, perception and the formations toheart, thought arises",—thus should one introspect. Thus through the takingto heart one grasps the characteristics of thought.Q. What is the grasping well of the characteristics? A. Throughthese activities and these characteristics, one grasps form, feeling, perception,the formations and consciousness.[455] And again, one is able to grasp the characteristics through these activitiesand these attributes. This is called the grasping well of the characteristics."One penetrates rise and fall" means: "One sees clearly, There is arising;there is passing away' ". Here the form that has arisen continues. Thesign of birth is arising. The characteristic of change is passing away. Whenthese two passages are perceived with the eye of wisdom, there is knowledgeof "rise and fall". The feeling that has arisen, continues. The characteristicof the coming to be of feeling, perception, the formations and consciousnessis arising; the characteristic of change in them is passing away. When thesetwo passages are perceived with the eye of wisdom, there is knowledge of"rise and fall".CHARACTERISTICS OF RISE AND FALLIN THREE WAYSAnd again, one can be well acquainted with the characteristics of riseand fall through three ways: through cause, condition and own property.Q. How can one be well acquainted with the characteristics of arising through"cause"? A. The aggregates arise owing to craving, ignorance, and kamma.When a man perceives this with the eye of wisdom, he becomes familiar withthe characteristics of arising through "cause". 1 How can one be well acquain-Yatha tath' assa purisassa ajapadena dandena gdjham sapparh gahetva ''kin n' dhamimam sappam avihefhento attanah ca imind adasdpento muhceyyan tV muncandkaram evapariyesato gahane majjhattatd hoti evamevarh yd lakkhanattayassa ditthatta dditte viyatayo bhave passato sankhdragahane majjhattatd ayarii sankhdrupekkhd. hi vipassanupekkhdyasiddhaya sankhdrupekkhd pi siddha va hoti.Cp, Pts. I, 55: 'Avijjdsamudaya rupasamudaya 1 ti paccayasamudayatthena rupakkhandhassaudayarh passati, *tanhdsamudaya rupasamudaya 1 ti paccayasamudayatthena rupakkhandhassaudayarh passati,kammasamudaya rupasamudayo' ti paccayasamudayatthenarupakkhandhassa udayarh passati.