Saṅkhāra — Activity

This is part 17 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"

Our delusion tells us that we have to do something to fix the world, but in reality all our efforts are wasted if they are based in ignorance.

Textbook

Read Chapter 4 of:

From Grasping to Emptiness: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 2 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 33.4 Saṅkhāraaññāṇa Sutta: Not Knowing Choices

SN 12.67 Naḷakalāpī Sutta: The Sheaves of Reeds

AN 3.99 Potthaka Sutta: Jute (.pdf)

Iti 27: Mettā Bhāvanā (.pdf)

Similes

Hecker similes: 64, 81 and 82.

Extra Credit

DN 2 Sāmaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of Recluseship (.pdf)

• This sutta (part of the “Long Discourses”) is too long to assign for homework but it weaves together several important aspects of karma and sankhārā, and might be an interesting read at this point.

Continue to Part 18, Vitakka — Thought

...or go back to part 16