Direct Penetration of the Dhamma

[Tep Sastri]

Hello!

Right view constitutes the correct understanding of the central teachings of the Buddha; the practice of mindfulness and any approach to right concentration (sammā-samādhi) are founded upon and guided by right view.  It is of twofold: 1. Conceptual right view, which is the intellectual grasp of the principles enunciated in the Buddha's teaching, and 2. Experiential right view, which is the wisdom that arises by direct penetration of the teaching.

(1) "Conceptual right view, also called the right view in conformity with the truths (saccanulomika-sammādiṭṭhi), is a correct conceptual understanding of the Dhamma arrived at by study of the Buddha's teachings and deep examination of their meaning. Such understanding, though conceptual rather than experiential, is not dry and sterile. When rooted in faith in the Triple Gem and driven by a keen aspiration to realize the truth embedded in the formulated principles of the Dhamma, it serves as a critical phase in the development of wisdom (paññā), for it provides the germ out of which experiential right view gradually evolves."

(2) "Experiential right view is the penetration of the truth of the teaching in one's own immediate experience. Thus it is also called right view that penetrates the truths (saccapativedha-sammādiṭṭhi). This type of right view is aroused by the practice of insight meditation guided by a correct conceptual understanding of the Dhamma. To arrive at direct penetration, one must begin with a correct conceptual grasp of the teaching and transform that grasp from intellectual comprehension to direct perception by cultivating the threefold training in morality, concentration and wisdom. If conceptual right view van be compared to a hand, a hand that grasps the truth by way of concepts, then experiential right view can be compared to an eye — the eye of wisdom that sees directly into the true nature of existence ordinarily hidden from us by our greed, aversion and delusion."

Reference: Bhikkhu Bodhi's commentary for MN 9

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MN 9, Sammaditthi Sutta is about Experiential Right View of the Sekha (beginning at Sotāpanna).  For example:

"When a disciple of the noble ones discerns what is unskillful, discerns the root of what is unskillful, discerns what is skillful, and discerns the root of what is skillful, it is to that extent that he is a person of right view, one whose view is made straight, who is endowed with verified confidence in the Dhamma, and who has arrived at this true Dhamma."

This is because Experiential Right View is beyond intellectual grasp of the Dhamma; it is the wisdom (discernment)  that arises by direct penetration of the teaching.

Best wishes.

[Tep Sastri]

Hello Everyone!

In the Suttas "wisdom" means experiential knowledge & understanding of reality & un-reality the way they really are. This kind of seeing & knowing by a disciple of the Buddha is noble: the quality that knows & sees a blemish (angana) and terminates it without delay is wisdom that is not found in ordinary people.  It is a direct knowing of the Truths by an Ariyan.

"One who has comprehended the truths has changed lineage, crossed over from the domain of the worldlings to the domain of the noble ones. Such a disciple is incapable of regression to the ranks of the worldling, incapable of losing the vision of truth that has flashed before his inner eye."  [Bhikkhu Bodhi in The Nobility of the Truths]
"One whose heart is overwhelmed by unrestrained covetousness,  ... by ill-will, ... by sloth and torpor, ... by restlessness and remorse, ... by skeptical doubt will do what he should not do and neglect what he ought to do. And through that, his good name and his happiness will come to ruin.  But if a noble disciple has seen these five as defilements of the mind, he will give them up. And doing so, he is regarded as one of great wisdom, of abundant wisdom, clear-visioned, well endowed with wisdom. This is called 'endowment with wisdom'."  [AN 4.61]

Best wishes.