Three Characteristics of Direct Knowledge

[Ted]

Hello, everyone !

There are three characteristics of direct knowledge :

1. What the Buddha taught (the Dhamma) was through his direct
knowledge :

The Blessed One said, "It's through direct knowledge that I teach the
Dhamma, not without direct knowledge. It's with a cause that I teach
the Dhamma, not without a cause. It's with marvels that I teach the
Dhamma, not without marvels. Because I teach the Dhamma through direct
knowledge and not without direct knowledge, because I teach the Dhamma
with a cause and not without a cause, because I teach the Dhamma with
marvels and not without marvels, there is good reason for my
instruction, good reason for my admonition. And that is enough for you
to be content, enough for you to be gratified, enough for you to take
joy that the Blessed One is rightly self-awakened, the Dhamma is well-
taught by the Blessed One, and the community has practiced
rightly." [AN 3.123 Gotamaka-cetiya Sutta]

2. The Dhamma -- the noble truths that he declared -- lead to direct
knowledge in the disciples :

"And what is declared by me? 'This is stress,' is declared by me.
'This is the origination of stress,' is declared by me. 'This is the
cessation of stress,' is declared by me. 'This is the path of practice
leading to the cessation of stress,' is declared by me. And why are
they declared by me? Because they are connected with the goal, are
fundamental to the holy life. They lead to disenchantment, dispassion,
cessation, calming, direct knowledge, self-awakening, Unbinding.
That's why they are declared by me. [MN 63 Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta]

3. We can verify the Buddha's instructions by the direct knowledge we
experience:

"As for the qualities of which you may know, 'These qualities lead to
utter disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to direct
knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding': You may definitely hold,
'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's
instruction.'" [AN 7.80 : Satthusasana Sutta]

Best wishes.
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