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Left : Panna







Panna refers to the experiential aspect gained from samadhi state(s). It is the insight-wisdom gained from direct experience (Vipassana panna), to observe & know the truth first hand, it also means state of trance and understanding from it. It originates from sanskrit/hindi word Pragya (pratyaksh+gyan) or direct+knowledge. Panna refers to both worldly as well as transcendental (out of the world) experience gained when a person enters into the state of trance in meditation. In Abhidhamma(Dhammasangani-Book1-Part1-Ch1:verses 1.16,1.29 etc.) Lord Buddha clearly elaborates panna as insight/wisdom, direct understanding, search, research, searching the Truth, discernment, discrimination, differentiation, erudition, proficiency, subtlety, criticism, reflection, analysis, breadth, sagacity, leading, insight, intelligence, incitement; panna as faculty(paññindriyaṃ), panna as power(paññābalaṃ)/energy, panna as a sword(paññāsatthaṃ), panna as a height(paññāpāsādo), panna as light(paññā-āloko), panna as glory(paññā-obhāso), panna as (blazing) splendour(paññā-pajjoto ), panna as a (shiny) precious stone(paññā-ratanaṃ) ; the absence of dullness, searching the Truth[51], right views.
Its description in verses:
1.16 paññindriyaṃ(पञ्‍ञिन्द्रियं) Faculty: Panna as faculty(indriya) when a person thinks & acts righteous i.e. follows shila then panna comes into observation but when one is on wrong path then panna is lost hence it acts as a faculty
1.20 sammādiṭṭhi(सम्मादिट्ठि) Right View: Panna as right view as mentioned in the Eightfold path i.e. when panna comes into observation then only a person is observing the truth hence it is also right view.
1.29 paññābalaṃ(पञ्‍ञाबलं) Power/Energy: Panna when observed appears as power & energy within.
1.34 amoho(अमोहो) Non-ignorance: Here Lord Buddha relates Panna to amoha i.e. absence of moha(ignorance), it means that when panna is observed ignorance is destroyed & true knowledge appears clearly as the hidden truth,
1.37 sammādiṭṭhi(सम्मादिट्ठि) Right View: repeated again as in 1.20 ,
1.53 sampajaññaṃ(सम्पजञ्‍ञं) Complete comprehension: Here it means that , only when panna comes into observation then only the comprehension is complete,
1.55 vipassanā(विपस्सना) Insight Meditation: Only when panna appears , then only one is in meditation truly,
1.79 paññindriyaṃ(पञ्‍ञिन्द्रियं) Faculty: same as in 1.16 , repeated again,
1.90 sammādiṭṭhi(सम्मादिट्ठि) Right View: repeated again as in 1.20 & 1.37,
1.100 paññābalaṃ(पञ्‍ञाबलं) Power/Energy: repeated again as in 1.29,
1.292 paññindriyaṃ(पञ्‍ञिन्द्रियं) Faculty: same as in 1.16 & 1.79 , repeated again,
1.296 anaññātaññassāmītindriyaṃ(अनञ्‍ञातञ्‍ञस्सामीतिन्द्रियं) ,
1.297 sammādiṭṭhi(सम्मादिट्ठि) Right View: repeated again as in 1.20, 1.37 & 1.90,
1.309 paññābalaṃ(पञ्‍ञाबलं) Power/Energy: repeated again as in 1.29 & 1.100,
1.314 amoho(अमोहो): Non-ignorance: Repeated again as in 1.34,
1.317 sammādiṭṭhi(सम्मादिट्ठि) Right View: repeated again as in 1.20, 1.37, 1.90 & 1.297,
1.333 sampajaññaṃ(सम्पजञ्‍ञं) Complete comprehension: repeated again as in 1.53,
1.335 vipassanā(विपस्सना) Insight Meditation: repeated again as in 1.55,
1.364 aññindriyaṃ(अञ्‍ञिन्द्रियं): Faculty of highest knowledge (of Arahats/perfects)
1.555 aññātāvindriyaṃ(अञ्‍ञाताविन्द्रियं): faculty of one who knows

See: AB-DS-PaliEng-CH1-Cittuppadaka, AB-DS-PaliDev-CH1-Cittuppadaka


Note: It is also to be noted that panna is associated with all trance states, it is because panna is the knowledge gained from observing the trance states.


Pali Version:
16. Katamaṃ tasmiṃ samaye paññindriyaṃ hoti? Yā tasmiṃ samaye paññā pajānanā vicayo pavicayo dhammavicayo sallakkhaṇā upalakkhaṇā paccupalakkhaṇā paṇḍiccaṃ kosallaṃ nepuññaṃ vebhabyā cintā upaparikkhā bhūrī medhā pariṇāyikā vipassanā sampajaññaṃ patodo paññā paññindriyaṃ paññābalaṃ paññāsatthaṃ paññāpāsādo paññāāloko paññāobhāso paññāpajjoto paññāratanaṃ amoho dhammavicayo sammādiṭṭhi – idaṃ tasmiṃ samaye paññindriyaṃ hoti.

१६. कतमं तस्मिं समये पञ्‍ञिन्द्रियं होति? या तस्मिं समये पञ्‍ञा पजानना विचयो पविचयो धम्मविचयो सल्‍लक्खणा उपलक्खणा पच्‍चुपलक्खणा पण्डिच्‍चं कोसल्‍लं नेपुञ्‍ञं वेभब्या चिन्ता उपपरिक्खा भूरी मेधा परिणायिका विपस्सना सम्पजञ्‍ञं पतोदो पञ्‍ञा पञ्‍ञिन्द्रियं पञ्‍ञाबलं पञ्‍ञासत्थं पञ्‍ञापासादो पञ्‍ञाआलोको पञ्‍ञाओभासो पञ्‍ञापज्‍जोतो पञ्‍ञारतनं अमोहो धम्मविचयो सम्मादिट्ठि – इदं तस्मिं समये पञ्‍ञिन्द्रियं होति।


Allegory: Similar to burning of a piece of wood; 1.A person makes effort to keep the wood dry(for morality/shila/sheel); 2. Makes effort to burn the wood by lighting fire under it with tinder etc (meditation i.e. Samadhi); 3. Wood catches fire & starts burning by itself without external aid, giving light & heat (Panna).


Also See: AN8.2 describes a person with Panna

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