Day ​97: Paññā Sampadā (accomplishment of Wisdom) Dīghajāṇu Sutta (AN 8.54)– Study Notes from BMV Monday Sutta Study with Bhante Dr. G. Chandima

                           

katamā ca, byagghapajja, paññāsampadā? idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto paññavā hoti, udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.ayaṃ vuccati, byagghapajja, paññāsampadā.

katamā ca – and what (is), indeed,
byagghapajja – Vyagghapajja,
paññāsampadā? – the accomplishment of wisdom?
idha – here,
byagghapajja – Vyagghapajja,
kulaputto – a householder, son of a good family
paññavā hoti – is wise,
udayatthagāminiyā paññāya – with wisdom that goes (leads) to rise and fall ( the wisdom that goes to the arising and passing away of saṅkhāras)
samannāgato – endowed with,
ariyāya – noble,
nibbedhikāya – penetrative/breaking open/going through the heart of things (this characteristic of wisdom does not skim the surface. It pierces through the aggregates and formations to see their conditional nature, their origination and cessation.)
sammā – rightly,
dukkhakkhayagāminiyā – leading to the destruction of dissatisfaction/suffering.
ayaṃ vuccati – this is called,
byagghapajja – Vyagghapajja,
paññāsampadā. – the accomplishment of wisdom.

And what, Vyagghapajja, is the accomplishment of wisdom?

Here, Vyagghapajja, a clansman is wise, endowed with the wisdom that discerns the rise and fall, noble, penetrative, and leading rightly to the complete destruction of dissatisfaction/suffering. This, Vyagghapajja, is called the accomplishment of wisdom.

Paññāsampadā in Dīghajāṇu Sutta and Paṭṭakamma Sutta

Also, for a revision of one of our previous sutta discussions on paññā, I would like you to revisit the paññā sampadā as presented in the Paṭṭakamma Sutta (AN 4.61) for laypeople. This will help us contrast it with the Dīghajāṇu Sutta and see how the concept of lay wisdom is compatible and complementary when viewed within a larger framework.

1. Wisdom as Awareness of Arising and Passing Away

• Dīghajāṇu Context: Lay wisdom is not book-learning but seeing the world realistically—how wealth, pleasure, and even family relations are subject to change.

• Support: Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (DN 22) teaches mindfulness of arising and ceasing phenomena.

• Daily Life: A householder saves wisely knowing fortunes rise and fall, just as emotions do. For example, when business is booming, wisdom says: “This prosperity too will pass.” This guards against arrogance and prepares one for downturns.

2. Wisdom as Penetrative Vision in Daily Concerns

• Dīghajāṇu Context: The Buddha speaks to a kulaputta—a son of a good family—immersed in social and economic life. Such a person needs penetrative wisdom to see beyond surface success.

• Support: Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (SN 22.59) shows insight into the aggregates.

• Daily Life: A layperson feels pride in property, career, or status. Penetrative wisdom questions: “Does this truly define me? Or is it a changing condition?” This view prevents destructive clinging when things are lost.

3. Wisdom That Ends Suffering, Not Just Manages It

• Dīghajāṇu Context: Paññā is “sammā dukkhakkhayagāminī”—it leads not merely to better worldly management but to an inner peace untouched by circumstances.

• Support: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) emphasizes right view as the start of the path to cessation.

• Daily Life: When a loved one disappoints you, worldly wisdom may suggest negotiation or patience. Noble wisdom goes further: it sees that suffering stems from craving and expectation. Reducing clinging brings deeper relief than adjusting external conditions.

4. Wisdom in Wealth and Responsibility

• Dīghajāṇu Context: The sutta balances prosperity with ethics—wisdom is needed to ensure worldly gain does not become a source of ruin.

• Support: Sigālovāda Sutta (DN 31) provides details of financial prudence and familial duties.

• Daily Life: A wise layperson resists impulsive spending on luxuries while neglecting family needs. Wisdom says: “Earn honestly, spend responsibly, and save for adversity.” This transforms wealth into a support for happiness, not a trap for suffering.

5. Wisdom Balanced with Compassionate Conduct

• Dīghajāṇu Context: The lay disciple’s wisdom is not cold calculation; it must harmonize with generosity (cāgasampadā) and ethical warmth (sīlasampadā).

• Support: Metta Sutta (Kp 9) illustrates how mettā enriches wise living.

• Daily Life: Suppose a co-worker fails at a task. Without compassion, wisdom becomes cruelty: “You should have known better.” With compassion, wisdom says: “Let’s learn from this together.” This keeps wisdom rooted in humanity.

6. Wisdom as Protective Power

• Dīghajāṇu Context: Lay wisdom safeguards one from decline (parābhava). It directs choices so one does not waste wealth, time, or relationships.

• Support: Mangala Sutta (Kp 5) praises wisdom as the highest blessing.

• Daily Life: Before signing a risky business deal, a wise person asks: “Does this cause harm to me or others?” Such reflection prevents downfall. Wisdom acts like insurance—not just for money but for moral and emotional stability.

7. Wisdom as Direct Experience, Not Mere Knowledge

• Dīghajāṇu Context: True lay wisdom is lived—observing impermanence, practicing generosity, and learning from mistakes—rather than only reading about it.

• Support: Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta (MN 27) distinguishes hearsay knowledge from direct realization.

• Daily Life: You might know about mindfulness techniques from a book, but when a child throws a tantrum, the real wisdom is whether you can stay calm, breathe, and guide them with patience. Experience makes wisdom authentic.

8. Wisdom as Lifelong Cultivation for Lay Growth

• Dīghajāṇu Context: Paññā is the culmination of all lay accomplishments. It grows gradually, supported by faith, virtue, and generosity.

• Support: Parābhava Sutta (Sn 1.6) warns against neglecting wisdom as it leads to decline.

• Daily Life: At the end of each day, reflect: “Where did I act with clarity, and where was I blinded by craving or anger?” This small exercise plants seeds of wisdom that grow over years. It turns life itself into a Dhamma classroom.