Pariññā

Pariññā (Skt. parijñāna). Having full understanding or knowledge; comprehensive knowledge. In Pali literature, three types of pariññā are distinguished (viz. ñāta, tīraṇa, pahāna), which are differently interpreted & applied according to the various contexts.

Sujin Boriharnwanaket states:

The development of satipaṭṭhāna is the development of paññā leading to the realization of the noble Truths. In the course of the development of insight, three degrees of full understanding, pariññā, can be discerned:

• full understanding of the known, ñāta pariññā [1],
• full understanding as investigation, tīraṇa pariññā [2], and
• full understanding as abandoning, pahāna pariññā [3].

Full understanding of the known, ñāta pariññā, is paññā realizing the characteristics of nāma and rūpa that appear as non-self. Insight of the first stage, which clearly discerns the difference between the characteristics of nāma and of rūpa, nāma-rūpa-pariccheda-ñāṇa, is a basis for the further development of paññā. Full understanding of the known is paññā that applies the knowledge gained at the moment of this stage of insight and it begins at this stage. Paññā should continue to investigate over and over again the characteristics of other kinds of nāma and rūpa, in addition to those realized at the moment the first stage of insight knowledge arose. Only thus nāma and rūpa can be clearly understood as they are.

Full understanding as investigation, tīraṇa pariññā, is paññā that thoroughly investigates nāma and rūpa, without preference for any particular nāma or rūpa, without selection of them. Paññā realizes the characteristics of realities as they appear through all six doors and thus it can see them as only dhammas. When paññā clearly realizes that all nāma and rūpa are equal, in this respect that they are only dhammas, it becomes more accomplished. Thus it can realize the fourth stage of insight, knowledge of the arising and falling away of nāma and rūpa. Full understanding of investigation begins at this stage.

The third kind of full understanding is full understanding of abandoning, pahāna pariññā. When paññā investigates the dissolution of nāma and rūpa and it can clearly realize this, the stage of insight can be reached which is knowledge of dissolution, bhanga ñāṇa. From then on paññā begins to become more detached from nāma and rūpa. Paññā becomes detached because it sees more clearly the disadvantage and danger of nāma and rūpa. Full understanding as abandoning begins at the stage of knowledge of dissolution and continues up to path knowledge, magga ñāṇa, when enlightenment is attained.

See also

• Prajna-paramita (bodhisattva path)
• Seven purifications

Further reading

• Pariññā, Digital Pali Dictionary
• Dalai Lama; Thubten Chodron (2014), Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, Wisdom Publications . Chapter 13.