Samma Does Not Mean "Right"

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What is Samma’?

Modern Theravada Abhidhamma (Theravada is not Buddhism) is in the habit of telling others that the Pali translation of Samma’ is “right”; i.e. “right speech, right view etc.”, however this is not born out in the Nikayas which predate Theravada’s existence and its Atthakatha commentaries. Often, amazingly, many Western Pali translators leave this word untranslated since the word “right/perfect/perfectly, best” does not fit into the translation. In fact, the entire magga (path) of Buddhism is for purpose of Samma’ (inflexured mind [citta]). Cittavimutta (emancipation of mind) = Samma’vimutta (Samma’ emancipation) in Sutta; denoting that a Self-same citta which is brought under self-coherency or “anasava” (taintless) is then: “[AN 1.282] the mind (citta) inside the immortal realm”. A Samma’sambuddha is not a “right right Buddha” (sic) nor a “Supremely enlightened Buddha” but rather a Buddha (awake/Bodhi) with a Samma’-citta [citta-upon-citta inflexured mind], or who is samma’vimutta or cittavimutta. As sutta indicates, the entire path itself is for Samma’, not a laundry list of do’s and don’ts like unto some secular morality for merit seeking worldlings (puthujjana/fools). Samma’ is literally the quietude of citta (mind) upon itself, also from whence the abstraction for the word Samatha comes into play, which is a designation for amata (immortality) [SN 5.8], for the very Soul itself. The fuel-less flame which feeds “off no fuel” (i.e. the body) is truly the Self-illumination which is the “eternal flame” (attadipa, Soul’s-illumination) which is Self-radiant, is Brahma-become [MN 1.341]. When the texts speak of the body as “food”, it is meant literally that the body is “food/fuel/wood” which the mind, while endowed with ignorance, illuminates and burns this fuel, seeing this false flame as itself “This is me. This is who I am, this is my very Self!”, it become enraptured and intoxicated by a false reflection of its own light (fuel-less/Svabhava) in the light of that which it is feeding/burning (anatta, khandhas), namely the transitory body of Mara’s (deaths) playground. Eventually the fuel is consumed (death), and mind, if still imbued with ignorance, lights another heap (khandhas) of aggregates ablaze (transmigration, Samsara) and as sutta proclaims “woe, therein does he suffer heinously!” The other-same mind of the fool (puthujjana) is brought under sway of phenomena just like a white light which reflects back the color (taint) of whatever object (aggregate) it strikes, while the Self-same mind of the cittavimutta (mind-liberated) arahant is like a laser with perfect Self-coherency such that no matter what object this ‘laser’ strikes, it does not assume unto itself the color (taint) of the object it comes into contact with, and at the death of the body, passes into an unseen singularity, being its own intrinsic nature (Svabhava, Self-nature). As the citations below shall more than illuminate, Samma’vimutta is intrinsically connected as a direct representation to cittavimutta, to Soul-hood, to Buddha-hood (i.e. Bodhi, or mind’s taintlessness, or Samma’ itself). The uneducated many are not aware that there is an Aryan 10-fold path in Buddhism which is superior in its ends to the 8-fold path; that being: The Noble Tenfold Path of the Arahant (VP 2.213, DN 2.216, 3.271, 3.291 MN 1.44,1.45,3.76, 3.78) , which is : #9. (samma’ña’n.am.) Gnosis of Samma’. #10. (samma’vimutti) Emancipation by Samma’. Like a fuel-less flame which has awakened to itself as its own inexhaustible fuel which requires no work (dukkha) to maintain a perpetual stasis, this is Samma’; for dukkha is not suffering, but literally work, through agnosis (avijja), verily ignorance makes one think falsely that a stasis can be maintained by heaping fuel (mind feeding and fueling itself off the body) is unobtainable and the very basis of suffering. The all-awake, the Buddhas themselves have awakened to the holy flame of mind which is a fuel-less illumination which, when turned in upon itself, can be maintained perpetually without effort, this is the very designation of Samma’vimutta, the Self-same mind (citta) which is its own support (atta hi attano nattho, ko hi natho para siya?! KN 2.380). That (tat, i.e. Brahma) is the Tat-agata, (Tathagata), the Samma’sambuddha who has reaped the fruit of the path’s end, being Samma’, the mind which bears the nectar of immortality.

samma’vimutta = cittavimutta = Brahmabhutena (Brahma-become).

Samma’ = inflexured mind (citta) which is taintless (anasava) and ‘the other shore” (SN 1.29 pa’ran.gama), the immortal (amata) [SN 5.8].

SN 1.29 Samma’vimutta = cittavimutta = “beyond death’s realm” = “other shore”

SN 1.29 Learned in the five Vedas and faring in ritual for a hundred years those Brahmins may be, their minds (citta) are not Samma’ liberated; such lowly forms as them are not ‘gone beyond’.
Bound to craving and vows, for a century they may conduct themselves in (worthless) austerities, their minds (citta) are not Samma’ liberated; such lowly forms as them are not ‘gone beyond’.
There is no taming herein for one lustful for deeds, nor taming for him devoid of fixation in samadhi; even alone in the woods he dwells, he shall not go beyond the reach of death’s realm.
Cast off of lust one is fixed in Samadhi upon the Soul, from everything around and from all is free the pure mind; even alone in the woods as he dwells, he has gone beyond the reach of death’s realm.

Atthakatha to SN 1.29
Saga’tha’vagga-Att.1.81 “Not Samma’ emancipated means that the mind is not Samma’ emancipated”

THE MIND (citta)
MN 1.197 “Followers, the Brahma life is not lived for sake of gains, honors, or acclaim; nor is it lived for virtuousness, nor for absorptions, nor for gnosis and insight. This Brahma life is lived for the sole preeminent purpose of emancipation of the mind (citta) alone, which is the quintessential final core.”

MN 1.301 “What is Samadhi for (i.e. the entire path itself and its culmination)? Samadhi, friend, is for making the mind (citta) sovereign. (cittassa ekaggata’)”

AN 2.29 “Within the sovereign mind one is established in the supreme Soul”, i.e. Samma’tta’ (Supreme Selfhood)

SANKARACHARYA ON SAMMA’
samma’vimutti’ti = cittavimutta; that being Citta which is coherent with itself alone before it mentates otherness (namo-rupa/psycho-physicality); hence ‘Soul-hood’ or ‘Soulness’.

Samatma (Pali Samma’tta’): One whose mind (citta) is Sama (Pali Samma’), without partiality (self-same coherent). Shri Shankaracharya commentary to the Visnu Shasranama p. 58; Sri Ramakrishna math publ.

SAMMA’: #22 The resting of the mind (citta) steadfastly upon its Goal (viz. Brahma) after having detached itself from manifold sense objects (i.e. corporeality), by continually observing their defects (i.e. sati/Samadhi), is called S’ama (Pali: Samma’) or calmness (is fixed in itself, Brahma, Soulhood, Atman). Shri Shankaracharya Vivekachudamani

SAMMA’ IS THE MAGGA
DN 3.255 “At.t.ha samma’tta’- samma’dit.t.hi, samma’sankappo, samma’va’ca’, samma’kammanto, samma’-a’ji’vo, samma’va’ya’mo, samma’sati, samma’sama’dhi.
“There are eight Samma’ttas (Samma’+attan). Which eight? Samma’ditthi…
samma’vimutti. These are the eight Samma’ttas (Self-Perfections).”

AN 5.240 Dasayime, bhikkhave, samma’tta’. Katame dasa? Samma’dit.t.hi, samma’sankappo, samma’va’ca’, samma’kammanto, samma’-a’ji’vo, samma’va’ya’mo, samma’sati, samma’sama’dhi, samma’ña’n.am., samma’vimutti- ime kho, bhikkhave, dasa samma’tta'”ti. Eka’dasamam.. samma’tta’.
“There are ten Samma’ttas (Samma’+attan). Which ten? Samma’ditthi… samma’vimutti. These are the ten Samma’ttas (Self-Perfections).”

Anudi’pani’pa’t.ha #236 samma’maggo
“The path of Samma'”

Nettippakaran.a-Att.#184 Ye samma’tta’, ayam. at.t.hangiko maggo
“Samma’tta’ (inflexured citta; i.e. the Soul) is the Aryan Eightfold Path”

SN 5.8 Ariyo at.t.han.giko maggo amataga’mimaggo
“The Aryan Eightfold Path is the path leading to Immortality”

Theraga’tha’-Att 2.271 samma’ cittam. vimuccati’ti: samma’ hetuna’ ña’yena maggapat.ipa’t.iya’ sabba’savato cittam. vimuccati.
“Samma’ mind emancipation means: Samma’ is the means and matter of the being upon the path; that being taintless of ‘the all’ that the mind is emancipated”

Pañcakanipa’ta-Att. 3.378 samma’ hetuna’ nayena maggacittam. vimuccati.
“Samma’ is the means and matter of the path of the mind being released”

Abhidhamma’vata’ro 335. Kasma’ arahato magga-cittam. va’ phalama’nasam.; puthujjana’ va’ sekkha’ va’, na sakkonti hi ja’nitum..
“Hence the Arahants path of mind is for fruition of mind; fools and learners cannot understand (this path).

TATHAGATA=SAMMA’ (Tat (samma’-mind/Brahma) gata (gone unto)..)
DN 3.277 samma’ tatha’gatena abhisambuddha’.
“Samma’ (cittavimutti) Tathagata, the Sambuddha”

Buddhagun.aga’tha’vali’ #280 Samma’vimutto sambuddho, suvimuttacitto muni’
“A Samma’ emancipated Sambuddha (i.e. Samma’sambuddha), is a holy-sage who is supra-emancipated in mind (suvimuttacitta)”

Buddhagun.aga’tha’vali’ #109 samma’sama’hitacitto, buddham. tam. pan.ama’myaham.
“Samma’ mind-fixated is that which the Buddha inclines himself towards.”

EIGHTFOLD PATH EXPLAINED AS BEING COMPOSED OF ASPECTS OF SAMMA’
Udana-Att #146 Samma’ dassanalakkhan.a’ samma’dit.t.hi, samma’ abhiniropanalakkhan.o samma’sankappo, samma’ pariggahan.alakkhan.a’ samma’va’ca’, samma’ samut.t.ha’nalakkhan.o samma’kammanto, samma’ voda’nalakkhan.o samma’-a’ji’vo, samma’ paggahalakkhan.o samma’va’ya’mo, samma’ upat.t.ha’nalakkhan.a’ samma’sati, samma’ avikkhepalakkhan.o samma’sama’dhi'”ti evam. visesalakkhan.ato.

Udana-Att #146 1. Seeing Samma’ is the mark of samma’ditthi, 2. directing thought at Samma’ is the mark of samma’sankappa, 3. taking up evocation (making verbal declaration of) of Samma’ is the mark of samma’vaca, 4. bringing forth Samma’ is the mark of samma’kamamanto, 5. making sanctification of Samma’ is the mark of samma’ajiva, 6. exerting energy for Samma’ is the mark of samma’vayama, 7. rising and fixating upon Samma’ is samma’sati, 8. coherency of Samma’ is samma’samadhi.

SAMMA’
Mahavagga Att. 3.131 Samma’ttanti samma’sabha’vam.
“Samma’tta is the Samma’ of ones true nature (Selfhood).”

AN 4.40 These are the seven prerequisites of Samadhi. Sammaditthi…sammasati. These are the seven requisites for making the mind (citta) sovereign which is the Aryan Sammasamadhi, those causes, those prerequisites.

Itivuttaka #115 “One is supremely liberated of mind (citta) who has Samma’ gnosis. Emancipated he is That, verily That (Brahma).”

SN 5.269 “If one develops a mind (citta) which is based within Samadhi, then is mind is acquires sovereignty. This is known as “Cittasamadhi’.”

Pat.isambhida’magga-Att. 1.300 “Desirous for the Soul within Samma’, this is the fixation within Samma’ which is the Soul”

Udana-Att. #168 “Preeminent mind, foremost mind, this is Samma’, is total-fulfillment and total-purification to be established upon.

SN 5.24 Yesam. sambodhiyangesu, samma’ cittam. subha’vitam.
“Those in whom (possess) sambodhihood, have Samma’ mind well-become”

Nida’navagga-Att 2.61 Samma’ppañña’ya passati’ti saha vipassana’ya maggapañña’ya samma’ passati.
“To see wisdom of Samma’ is connected with vipassana, to see Samma’ is wisdom of the path”

Uda’na-Att. 434 vimuttatta’ samma’ vimutta’nam.
“Emancipated in the Soul is Samma’ emancipation”

AN 2.67 samma’ sukham.
“bliss of Samma'”

DN 2.152 Ime ca, subhadda, bhikkhu’ samma’ vihareyyum., asuñño loko arahantehi assa'”ti.
“If there were bhikkhus who dwelt in Samma’, the world would never be devoid of Arahants.”

Sutta Nipata #372 parinibbuto t.hitatto, samma’ so loke paribbajeyya
“Thoroughly purified and fixed in the Soul, this is the wandering in the realm of Samma'”

SN 5.23 Yesam. kesañci, bhikkhave, ariyo at.t.hangiko maggo a’raddho, a’raddho tesam. ariyo at.t.hangiko maggo samma’ dukkhakkhayaga’mi’.
“Bhikkhus, those who have undertaken the Aryan Eightfold Path have entered upon Samma’, being the end of further suffering.”

Anudi’pani’pa’t.h #14 Samma’bujjhati’ti sambodhi.
“Samma’ is to comprehend Sambodhi”

Pa’thikavagga Att. 3.1043 Samma’tta’ti ya’tha’va’ samma’sabha’va’
“Samma’tta is the Samma’ of Self-nature (Selfhood).”

Anudi’pani’pa’t.ha #163 Samma’sa bha’va’ti samma’tta’
“Self-Perfection is to become Samma’ (inflexured citta).”

AN 2.196 cittam. vimocetva’ samma’vimuttim.
“Citta attains emancipation by being Samma’ emancipated”

AN 3.378 Tassa samma’ vimuttassa, santacittassa bhikkhuno
“This is (the meaning of) Samma’ emancipation, that being the equalized mind of the monk”

AN 3.378 samma’vimuttacittassa
“Samma’ (inflexured citta/Soulhood) is emancipation of the mind”

Saga’tha’vagga-Att.1.81 Na samma’vimuttanti sacepi evaru’pa’ bra’hman.a’ vassasatam. caranti, cittañca nesam. samma’ vimuttam. na hoti
“Not Samma’ emancipation means the mind is not Samma’ emancipated”

Vima’navatthupa’l.i #5 Yo ve samma’vimutta’nam., santa’nam. brahmaca’rinam.
“The Brahma-faring quelled (folks), designates Samma’ emancipation”

Pa’thikavaggAtt.3.1043 Samma’tta’ti ya’tha’va’ samma’sabha’va’
“Samma’tta designates Samma’ Self-nature (Atman).”

Maha’niddesa-Att.1.145 adhicittam. samma’ careyya
“Transmundane mind is Samma’-faring (i.e. Brahma-faring)”

Theraga’tha’pa’l.I #95 ekaggacittassa, samma’ dhammam. vipassato.
“One beholds Samma’ Dharma within the sovereign mind”

AN 2.29 ekaggacittassa ajjhattam. susama’hito”ti.
“Within the sovereign mind one is thoroughly quelled in the Supreme Soul”

Si’lakkhandhavagga-abhinavat.i’ka’ 1.275 samma’sambodhiyañca adhimuttacitta’nam.
“Samma’sambuddha designates Supra-liberated mind”

Vima’navatthu-Att. #329 pasannacitto samma’sambuddho
“The Samma’sambuddha means ‘lucidity/purity of mind’…”

Vima’navatthu-Att. #106 samma’sambuddho bhagava'”ti tava cittam. pasa’dehi
“The Samma’sambuddha is him who is clear (i.e. undefiled. Anasava) of mind”

Majjhimapan.n.a’sa-Att.3.10 Brahmabhu’tena attana’ti set.t.habhu’tena attana’. Cittam. a’ra’dheti’ti cittam. sampa’deti
“The Soul has become Brahma means the Soul has become the Absolute. This is the mind succeeding in winning the mind (itself)”

Maha’niddesa-Att.1.171 Brahmabhu’tena’ti uttamasabha’vena. Attana’ti cittena.
“To become Brahma is the Supernal Self-nature. The Soul is the very mind.”

AN 2.199 Evamevam. kho, vappa, evam. samma’ vimuttacittassa bhikkhuno cha satataviha’ra’ adhigata’ honti.
“Just so Vappa, when a bhikkhu has Samma’ mind emancipation, he has accomplished six constant abiding states”

Maha’vagga-Att.3.200 Sama’hita’ ekaggacitta’ti upaca’rappana’vasena samma’ t.hapitacitta’ ca ekaggacitta’ ca.
“The quelled/coherent sovereign mind fully attended to is Samma’ mind-fixation, or the sovereign mind itself.”

Pat.isambhida’magga-Att. Ekattupat.t.ha’navasena cittassa t.hitatta’ti
“To attend upon the taintless mind is to be fixed in the Soul”

Maha’vagga-Att. 3.121 Mano yottanti vipassana’cittañca maggacittañca yottam..
“Mentating the yoke being vipassana of the mind is the path of the mind yoke”

Pat.isambhida’magga-Att 2.392 samma’ va’ a’hito t.hitoti sama’hito
“Samma’ and (the sacred) fire-sacrifice fixed is the meaning of Samahita”

At.t.hakanipa’ta-Att. 4.88 Sama’hitam. cittam. ekagganti cittampi me samma’ a’hitam. sut.t.hu t.hapitam.
“Steadfastly fixed mind (citta) is sovereign mind that is Samma’ ahita (sacred rite) exceedingly steadfast.”

Anudi’pani’pa’t.ha Samma’sa bha’va’ti samma’tta’
“Samma’ is having become Self-Perfection”

Cu’l.aniddesa-Att. #51 Majjhattata’ti cittassa majjhe t.hitabha’vo
“The middle-souled is the very mind’s middle wherein one becomes fixated”

DN 2.83 supatit.t.hitacitta’ satta bojjhange yatha’bhu’tam. bha’vetva’ anuttaram. samma’sambodhim. abhisambujjhissanti
“Supremely within fixation of mind (citta) of the seven factors of enlightenment of things as they are/have become is possession of being in the state of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (Unexcelled Samma’ (inflexured mind) illumination).

Theraga’tha’-Att. 2.169 Yatha’ ekaggacittassa, samma’ dhammam. vipassatoti samathavipassanam.
“That being the sovereign-mind, this is the law Samma’ envisioned (vipassatoti) which is [the meaning of] samatha-vipassana.”

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