1.
The Chapter on an Ascetic’s Perceptions
1.
Commentary on the Ascetic's Perception Sutta
101. "Perceptions of an ascetic" in the first of the third means perceptions that arise in ascetics. "One who acts continuously" means one who acts without interruption. "Without affliction" means free from suffering. "He regards the requisites of life as having this purpose" means "this is the purpose, these are the requisites" - thus it is for him regarding the requisites of life; he uses them with reviewed consumption - this is the meaning. The second is of clear meaning.
3.
Commentary on the Wrong Course Sutta
103. In the third, "there is failure" means there is missing out on heaven and the path. "Not accomplishment" means there is no achievement, no fulfilment. "Is able to arise" means it proceeds.
4-5.
Commentary on the Seed Sutta and so on
104-105. In the fourth, "complete and taken upon oneself according to that view" means completely taken upon oneself in conformity with the view, wholly grasped. "Volition" means volition produced in the three doors is what is taken. "Longing" means longing thus: "May I be of such form." "Aspiration" means the establishing of consciousness thus: "I shall become a god or an inferior deity." "Activities" means associated activities. In the fifth, "forerunner" is in the sense of going before. "Follow right behind" means following right behind that.
6.
Commentary on the Wearing Away Sutta
106. In the sixth, "bases for wearing away" means causes for wearing away. "Wrong view has been worn away" - this has already been worn away, abandoned even by insight below. Why then is it taken up again? Because it has not been utterly cut off. For although worn away by insight, it is not utterly cut off. But the path, having arisen, utterly cuts it off and does not allow it to emerge again. Therefore it is taken up again. Thus it should be applied in all terms. And here, with right liberation as condition, sixty-four mental states go to fulfilment through development. Which sixty-four? At the moment of the path of stream-entry, the faith faculty is fulfilled in the meaning of decision, the energy faculty in the meaning of exertion, the mindfulness faculty in the meaning of establishing, the concentration faculty in the meaning of non-distraction, the wisdom faculty is fulfilled in the meaning of seeing, the mind faculty in the meaning of cognition, the pleasure faculty in the meaning of delight, the life faculty is fulfilled in the meaning of authority over the continuity of occurrence, etc. At the moment of the fruition of arahantship, the faith faculty in the meaning of decision, etc. The life faculty is fulfilled in the meaning of authority over the continuity of occurrence - thus in the four paths and in the four fruitions, being eight each, sixty-four mental states go to fulfilment.
7.
Commentary on the Washing Sutta
107. In the seventh, "washing" means bone-washing. For in that country, people do not cremate their dead relatives, but having dug a pit, they bury them in the ground. Then, having taken out their bones when they have become putrid, having washed them, having raised them up in order, having venerated them with garlands of fragrance, they place them. When the festival has arrived, having taken those bones, they cry and lament, then they celebrate the festival.
8-10.
Commentary on the Physician Sutta and so on
108-110. In the eighth, "purgative" means a medicine for removing disorders. "Is purged" means is removed, dispelled. In the ninth, "emetic" means a medicine for causing vomiting. In the tenth, "should be expelled" means should be ejected. "Expelled" means ejected.
11.
Commentary on the First One Beyond Training Sutta
111. In the eleventh, right view itself is stated as right knowledge for the purpose of completing the factors. Thus all these states of the fruition of arahantship are also beyond training, and because they occur for one beyond training, reviewing knowledge too is said to be beyond training.
12.
Commentary on the Second One Beyond Training Sutta
112. In the twelfth, "qualities of one beyond training" means just of one beyond training, or belonging to one beyond training. By this discourse, only one who has eliminated the mental corruptions is spoken of.
The Chapter on Perception of an Ascetic is the first.