Mil 3.1.15
15. Distinguishing Characteristic of Wisdom Question
15. Paññālakkhaṇapañha
from: Great Chapter
15. Distinguishing Characteristic of Wisdom Question
The king asked: “Venerable Nāgasena, what is the distinguishing characteristic of wisdom?” “Previously, your majesty, I said that severing is a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom, and also illuminating is a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom.” “How, venerable sir, is illuminating a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom.” “Wisdom arising, your majesty, dispels the darkness of ignorance, generates the radiance of true knowledge, displays the light of understanding, and makes evident the noble truths. Then, a spiritual practitioner sees with right wisdom what is ‘impermanent’, ‘suffering’, or ‘not self’.”
“Please give me an analogy.” “Just as, your majesty, a person might bring a lamp into a dark house, and this lamp brought in dispels the darkness, generates radiance, displays light, and makes evident forms. In the same way, your majesty, wisdom arising dispels the darkness of ignorance, generates the radiance of true knowledge, displays the light of understanding, and makes evident the noble truths. Then, a spiritual practitioner sees with right wisdom what is ‘impermanent’, ‘suffering’, or ‘not self’. Thus, your majesty, is illuminating a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom.”
“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”
Distinguishing Characteristic of Wisdom Question fifteenth
15. Paññālakkhaṇapañha
Rājā āha— “bhante nāgasena, kiṁlakkhaṇā paññā”ti? “Pubbeva kho, mahārāja, mayā vuttaṁ— ‘chedanalakkhaṇā paññā’ti, api ca obhāsanalakkhaṇā paññā”ti. “Kathaṁ, bhante, obhāsanalakkhaṇā paññā”ti? “Paññā, mahārāja, uppajjamānā avijjandhakāraṁ vidhameti, vijjobhāsaṁ janeti, ñāṇālokaṁ vidaṁseti, ariyasaccāni pākaṭāni karoti. Tato yogāvacaro ‘aniccan’ti vā ‘dukkhan’ti vā ‘anattā’ti vā sammappaññāya passatī”ti.
“Opammaṁ karohī”ti. “Yathā, mahārāja, puriso andhakāre gehe padīpaṁ paveseyya, paviṭṭho padīpo andhakāraṁ vidhameti, obhāsaṁ janeti, ālokaṁ vidaṁseti, rūpāni pākaṭāni karoti; evameva kho, mahārāja, paññā uppajjamānā avijjandhakāraṁ vidhameti, vijjobhāsaṁ janeti, ñāṇālokaṁ vidaṁseti, ariyasaccāni pākaṭāni karoti. Tato yogāvacaro ‘aniccan’ti vā ‘dukkhan’ti vā ‘anattā’ti vā sammappaññāya passati. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, obhāsanalakkhaṇā paññā”ti.
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
Paññālakkhaṇapañho pannarasamo.