Kicca Ñāṇa: Knowledge of Function

The knowledge that understands the functions of the Four Noble Truths is Kicca Ñāṇa (Knowledge of Function). Understanding the function of the Truth of Suffering (Dukkha Sacca) is Kicca Ñāṇa. Understanding the function of the Truth of the Origin of Suffering (Samudaya Sacca), the function of the Truth of the Cessation of Suffering (Nirodha Sacca), and the function of the Truth of the Path (Magga Sacca) – all of this is Kicca Ñāṇa. Remember this: Kicca Ñāṇa is more important than Sacca Ñāṇa (Knowledge of Truth). Consider this: When a layman named Pessa arrived at the monastery, the Buddha began teaching him, starting with Dāna (generosity) and Sīla (morality). Pessa's mind became purified and bright. The time had come to teach him the Truths. However, just at this moment of purity, Pessa was summoned home for urgent business. He was an extremely busy man, deeply involved in his work and business. So, at this very moment when his mind was pure and ripe for receiving the Truths, he left without hearing the rest of the Dhamma and went home. The Buddha then said to the monks nearby, "Pessa has left. He has missed the Truths. He will die before his bones rise thirteen yojanas (a vast distance)." Pessa had explained to the Buddha, "Venerable Sir, my mind was purified when I was called home. I have a small matter to attend to, so I shall return." The Buddha declared to the monks, "Pessa has lost! He will not attain liberation in this Buddha's dispensation. Only after his flesh and blood have become earth rising one yojana high, and after the next Buddha appears, will he then attain liberation." He had heard the teachings on Dāna and Sīla, but because he missed the Truths, he failed to enter the path to liberation. Missing the Truths caused Pessa immense loss. Therefore, the Dhamma of the Truths is extremely important. Now, let us continue with Kicca Ñāṇa. What is Kicca Ñāṇa? When pain, ache, soreness, or stiffness arises within your own mental continuum (santāna), that is the Feeling Aggregate (Vedanākkhandha). This feeling oppresses the mind and oppresses the body. Oppressing the mind causes mental displeasure (domanassa); oppressing the body causes physical suffering (dukkha). Ah! This Feeling Aggregate of mine is oppressing my own body. It is not someone else oppressing me. It arises within this very body, and this very arisen aggregate oppresses the other aggregates. This feeling arises within this body, and this arisen aggregate oppresses the remaining aggregates. Thus, the answer becomes clear: the Feeling Aggregate has the function of oppression (pīḷanaṭṭho – the characteristic of oppressing, of tormenting). Pīḷanaṭṭho: it oppresses relentlessly, without mercy. You cannot ask it not to oppress. It will oppress inevitably. Therefore, one knows decisively: the true oppressing phenomenon is this very feeling that has arisen. What does it oppress? It oppresses everything that arises with it: perception (saññā), mental formations (saṅkhāra), consciousness (viññāṇa) – in short, all four mental aggregates arising together with it. Being the Feeling Aggregate itself, it oppresses the remaining Perception Aggregate (Saññākkhandha), Volitional Formations Aggregate (Saṅkhārakkhandha), and Consciousness Aggregate (Viññāṇakkhandha). A feeling arising in relation to the body also oppresses the body, making it flush red or ache – oppressing the Materiality Aggregate (Rūpakkhandha). This is your own Feeling Aggregate oppressing you back. Therefore, the function of oppression exists within the Feeling Aggregate. See with insight (ñāṇa): the Feeling Aggregate is the phenomenon that oppresses. It performs the function of oppression. Thus, the Feeling Aggregate arising within your own continuum arises in order to oppress the other aggregates within your own continuum. It arises to oppress the remaining Perception Aggregate, Volitional Formations Aggregate, Consciousness Aggregate, and Materiality Aggregate. It oppresses all four of the other aggregates. Seeing this oppression with insight knowledge, one realizes: "This is its function." Its function is the function of oppression – the function of the aggregate. Speaking specifically of feeling, it's the function of the Feeling Aggregate. Whenever it arises, at the very moment of arising, what is it doing? It is oppressing. Whatever aggregate arises within the body-mind, it arises in order to oppress. One must work to decisively understand with insight: "Every aggregate that arises like this has only the function of oppression, nothing else." Make it known with certainty: Oppressing is its function; it is performing its function. Seeing that oppression is the function (kicca), and knowing it is knowledge (ñāṇa). Putting it together: Kicca Ñāṇa (Knowledge of Function). Because knowledge (ñāṇa) knows, the Truth of Origin (Samudaya Sacca) ceases without even arising. Why does it cease? Because the knowledge that knows the function of oppression is the knowledge of the Path (Magga Ñāṇa) at work. When this knowledge enters, defilements (kilesa) cannot find a foothold and cease as usual. When they cease, do they come and cease, or cease without coming? They cease without coming (anuppāda nirodha – cessation without arising). Anuppāda – without arising; Nirodha – ceasing. The ability to cause cessation without (defilements) arising is the function of the Truth of the Path (Magga Sacca). The function of knowing (pariññā kicca) inherently accomplishes the function of abandoning (pahāna kicca). The Truth of Origin (Samudaya Sacca) cannot intervene. Because the Truth of Origin cannot intervene, craving ceases (taṇhā nirodho), Nibbāna is present. Repeatedly observing the function of oppression within the aggregates is the function of Bhāvetabba (to be developed). One must look at it again and again. This is not yet the arising of the true Path consciousness (Magga Citta). It is still only Insight Knowledge (Vipassanā Ñāṇa). Make it known: "Ah, every time an aggregate arises, it is oppressing!" If the Feeling Aggregate oppresses repeatedly, one must know it repeatedly. The repeated oppression is the Truth of Suffering (Dukkha Sacca - pīḷanaṭṭho). The repeated knowing is the function of Bhāvetabba for the Truth of the Path (Magga Sacca). Thus, the Truth of the Path has the function of Bhāvetabba (to be developed). Because one repeatedly sees the repeated oppression, defilements cease repeatedly without arising. This repeated non-arising of defilements is the function of Pahātabba (to be abandoned) for the Truth of Origin (Samudaya Sacca). The repeated cessation without defilements arising is the function of Nissaraṇaṭṭha (having the characteristic of deliverance) for the Truth of Cessation (Nirodha Sacca). Nissaraṇaṭṭho: being the means of escape, bringing benefit. Because one knows the Truth of Suffering with the Truth of the Path, developing it repeatedly, defilements also cease repeatedly. Why do they cease repeatedly? Because one repeatedly sees the repeated oppression. The more one sees, the more cessation occurs. The more oppression occurs, the more one must look to see it, and the more defilements cease. The more cessation occurs, the more cessation (Nirodha) is present. This simultaneous occurrence of these four aspects is Kicca Ñāṇa. Therefore, develop it through Bhāvetabba. The more you develop it, the more you abandon the Truth of Origin (Samudaya Sacca). As you abandon Samudaya, cessation (Nirodha) simultaneously occurs. Thus, the function of oppression within the arisen aggregates becomes immeasurable. This immeasurable oppression is its function. Therefore, when you look immeasurably at this immeasurable oppression, it becomes the function of development (Bhāvanā kicca). The more the function of development increases, the more the function of defilement cessation increases. The more Path knowledge arises, the more frequently defilements do not come. When defilements do not come, understand it as not coming to cease (Anāgantvā nirodha). Defilements cease without arising even slightly, hence cessation (Nirodha). The immeasurable non-arising of defilements is the function of Pahātabba (to be abandoned) for the Truth of Origin (Samudaya Sacca). The immeasurable cessation without arising is the function of Nissaraṇaṭṭha (deliverance) for the Truth of Cessation (Nirodha Sacca). Nissaraṇaṭṭho: being the means of escape, bringing benefit. The feeling arising within your own body is your Feeling Aggregate. Your Feeling Aggregate oppresses the other four aggregates. Therefore, because it oppresses, it is the Truth of Suffering (pīḷanaṭṭho). Repeatedly observing it oppress is the Truth of the Path (Bhāvetabba). Seeing the oppression, defilements cease without arising; this is abandoning what should be abandoned (Pahātabba) – abandoning the Truth of Origin (Samudaya Sacca). At the time of abandoning, the cessation of defilements is "With the cessation of craving, cessation" (Taṇhā nirodho Nibbānaṃ) – this is Nissaraṇaṭṭha (deliverance). The knowledge that understands these four functions occurring simultaneously is Kicca Ñāṇa. Venerable Dr. Parami