Ājānāti

Renderings

• ājānātī: to learn

• ājānātī: to realise

• ājānātī: to know

• ājānātī: to understand

Introduction

Ājānāti and Aññāya

Aññāya is the absolutive of ājānātī. We treat it here, and also separately, sv Aññāya.

Illustrations

Illustration: aññāya, having learned

Whatever bhikkhunī without having obtained permission from the community of bhikkhunīs which carried out the proceedings in accordance with the rule, the discipline, the Teacher’s word, not having learned the group’s desire (anaññāya gaṇassa chandaṃ), should restore a bhikkhunī suspended by a complete assembly of bhikkhunīs, that bhikkhunī has fallen into a matter that is a foremost offence entailing a formal meeting of the community of bhikkhunīs involving being sent away (Vin.4.231).

Illustration: aññāsi, knew

When the Blessed One knew that Pokkharasāti’s mind was ready, teachable, free of the five hindrances, uplifted, and serene, then he preached the religious discourse unique to the Buddhas
Yadā bhagavā aññāsi brāhmaṇaṃ pokkharasātiṃ kallacittaṃ muducittaṃ vinīvaraṇacittaṃ udaggacittaṃ pasannacittaṃ (D.1.110).

Illustration: aññāsi, realise

When you realised my unsureness (about the perfection of the Perfect One’s enlightenment)
☸ Yaṃ me kaṅkhitamaññāsi

You helped me overcome my doubts. Homage to you.
☸ Vicikicchā maṃ tārayī namo te (Sn.v.539-540).

Illustration: aññāya, realising

A bhikkhu investigates the meaning of the teachings he has retained in mind
☸ dhatānañca dhammānaṃ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti

Realising their meaning and significance, he practises in accordance with the teaching
☸ atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammapaṭipanno ca hoti (A.4.298).

Illustration: aññāsiṃ, knew

I knew the worthless man Udāyī would foolishly interfere right now.
☸ aññāsiṃ kho ahaṃ ānanda idānevāyaṃ udāyī moghapuriso ummujjamāno ayoniso ummujjissatī ti (M.3.208).

Illustration: aññāya, having understood

A wise person through fully understanding the teaching, having understood the teaching, becomes inwardly at peace, like an unruffled lake, imperturbable.
☸ dhammamabhiññāya dhammamaññāya paṇḍito
rahadova nivāte ca anejo vūpasammati (It.91-2).

Illustration: aññāya, knowing

Knowing my reflection, the Teacher, unsurpassed in the world, through his psychic power approached me with a mind-made body.
☸ Mama saṅkappamaññāya satthā loke anuttaro
Manomayena kāyena iddhiyā upasaṅkami (A.4.235).

Illustration: aññāya, having understood

If, having understood the meaning and significance of each question (and its answer), one applied oneself in accordance with the teaching, one would go beyond old age and death.
☸ ekamekassa cepi pañhassa atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṃ paṭipajjeyya gaccheyyeva jarā maraṇassapāraṃ (Sn.p.218).

Illustration: aññāya, having understood

These explain the teaching dispelling all suffering
☸ Te tassa dhammaṃ desenti sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṃ

He, having understood that teaching, realises the Untroubled in this world, and is free of perceptually obscuring states.
☸ Yaṃ so dhammaṃ idhaññāya parinibbāti anāsavo ti (Vin.2.148).

Illustration: aññāya, having understood

The deva Ghaṭīkāra announced that seven bhikkhus had attained arahantship. The Buddha replied:

You speak well of those who have abandoned Māra’s snare.
☸ Kusalī bhāsasi tesaṃ mārapāsappahāyinaṃ

Having understood whose teaching did they sever the bonds of individual existence?
☸ Kassa te dhammamaññāya acchiduṃ bhavabandhanaṃ (S.1.35).

Illustration: aññāya, having understood

Having understood the teaching, meditatingthought-free,
☸ Aññāya dhammaṃ avitakkajhāyī (S.1.126).

Illustration: aññāya, understanding

Then, understanding this teaching, scrutinising it, a bhikkhu should train himself in it ever mindfully.
☸ Etañca dhammamaññāya vicinaṃ bhikkhu sadā sato sikkhe (Sn.v.933).

Illustration: aññātaṃ, ājānāsī, understand

―’By grasping, bhikkhu, one is held captive by Māra. By not graspingone is freed from the Maleficent One.’
☸ Upādiyamāno kho bhikkhu baddho mārassa anupādiyamāno mutto pāpimato ti.

―’I understand, Blessed One. I understand, Sublime One.’
☸ aññātaṃ bhagavā aññātaṃ sugatā ti.

―’In what way do you understand the meaning of my brief statement?’
☸ yathākathaṃ pana tvaṃ bhikkhu mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṃ ājānāsī ti? (S.3.73).

Illustration: ājānāmī, understand

This statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One, where the meaning was not explained in detail, thus do I understand the meaning in detail.
☸ Imassa kho ahaṃ bhante bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṃ avibhattassa evaṃ vitthārena atthaṃ ājānāmī ti (M.3.52).

Illustration: ājānāma, understand

We do not understand a word of the ascetic Gotama’s explanation of the teaching.
☸ Na kho pana mayaṃ kiñci samaṇassa gotamassa ekaṃsikaṃ dhammaṃ desitaṃ ājānāma (D.1.189).