Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are

This is part 12 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

The culmination of insight, yathābhūtañāṇadassana is a complete transformation of how we perceive the world: from assuming its stability and sufficiency to seeing its ephemerality and repulsiveness.

Textbook

Read Chapter 11 of:

From Craving to Liberation: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 1 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 35.28 Adittapariyaya Sutta: The Fire Sermon

AN 3.82 Gadrabha Sutta: The Donkey

Iti 53 Dutiyavedanā Sutta: Feelings (.pdf)

Similes

Hecker similes: 17, 28, 67 and 84.

Reflections

Poets have long noted the irony that the law of impermanence is itself eternal. Do the similes here play on that irony? What other ironies can you notice in these selections?

Continue to Part 13, Vimutti — Liberation

...or go back to part 11