First Direct Knowledge & Stream-entry Faith

[Ted]

Hello !

In MN 47 Viimamsaka Sutta, the Buddha taught the monks that the first-
level direct knowledge was associated with hearing of the Teachings
being directly expounded by the Teacher. It is the direct experiencing
of the Dhamma that dispels all doubts such that the listener gains an
absolute confidence (saddha) in the Teachings. In the Note 490 below,
this direct knowledge is the Dhamma Eye that arises with "the faith of
a stream-enterer who has seen the Dhamma through the supramundane path
and can never point to any other teacher than the Buddha".
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14. “Bhikkhus, a disciple should approach the Teacher who speaks thus
in order to hear the Dhamma. The Teacher teaches him the Dhamma with
its higher and higher levels, with its more and more sublime levels,
with its dark and bright counterparts. As the Teacher teaches the
Dhamma to a bhikkhu in this way, through direct knowledge of a certain
teaching here in that Dhamma, the bhikkhu comes to a conclusion about
the teachings. [489] He places confidence in the Teacher thus: ‘The
Blessed One is fully enlightened, the Dhamma is well proclaimed by the
Blessed One, the Sangha is practicing the good way.’

[Note 489: So tasmim dhamme abhi~n~naaya idh’ekaccam dhammam dhammesu
nittham gacchati.
In order to convey the intended meaning I have rendered the second
occurrence of dhamma here as “teaching,” i.e., the particular doctrine
taught to him, the plural dhammesu as “teachings,” and tasmim dhamma
as “that Dhamma,” in
the sense of the total teaching. MA and MT together explicate the
meaning thus: When the Dhamma has been taught by the Teacher, by
directly knowing the Dhamma through penetration of the path, fruit,
and Nibbaana, the bhikkhu comes to a conclusion about the preliminary
teaching of the Dhamma on the requisites of enlightenment (bodhi-
pakkhiyaa dhammaa).]

15. “Now if others should ask that bhikkhu thus: ‘What are the
venerable one’s reasons and what is his evidence whereby he says, “The
Blessed One is fully enlightened, the Dhamma is well proclaimed by the
Blessed One, the Sangha is practicing the good way”?’
– Answering rightly, that bhikkhu would answer thus:
‘Here, friends, I approached the Blessed One in order to hear the
Dhamma. The Blessed One taught me the Dhamma with its higher and
higher levels, with its more and more sublime levels, with its dark
and bright counterparts. As the Blessed One taught the Dhamma to me in
this way, through direct knowledge of a certain teaching here in that
Dhamma, I came to a conclusion about the teachings. I placed
confidence in the Teacher thus: “The Blessed One is fully enlightened,
the Dhamma is well proclaimed by the Blessed One, the Sangha is
practicing the good way.”’

16. “Bhikkhus, when anyone’s faith has been planted, rooted, and
established in the Tathaagata through these reasons, terms, and
phrases, his faith is said to be supported by reasons, rooted in
vision, firm, [490] it is invincible by any recluse or brahmin or god
or Maara or Brahmaa or by anyone in the world. That is how, bhikkhus,
there is an investigation of the Tathaagata in accordance with the
Dhamma, and that is how the Tathaagat is well investigated in
accordance with the Dhamma.”

[Note 490: Aakaaravatii saddhaa dassanamuulikaa da.lhaa. This phrase
refers to the faith of a stream-enterer who has seen the Dhamma
through the supramundane path and can never point to any other teacher
than the Buddha.]

That is what the Blessed One said. The bhikkhus were satisfied and
delighted in the Blessed One’s words. [end of quote]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SariputtaDhamma/message/5038
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Best wishes.