Is "anupassi" translated as "focused" accurate?
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I read the following on the internet:
> If having a little wisdom one would not see any different between
> "staying right focused" and "watch closely", but the fool seeks to
> accumulate knowledge just for gain and to pave his way downwardly.
From the Pali suttas, the word "**anupassi**" is translated as follows:
> On that occasion the monk remains **focused** on the body in & of
> itself — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress
> with reference to the world. Thanissaro
>
> on that occasion a bhikkhu abides **contemplating** the body as a body,
> ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and
> grief for the world. Bodhi
>
> That’s why at that time a mendicant is meditating by **observing** an
> aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and
> aversion for the world. Sujato
>
> a monk lives **contemplating** the body in the body, ardent, clearly
> comprehending and mindful, having overcome, in this world,
> covetousness and grief Nyanasatta Thera
>
> a bhikkhu lives **contemplating** the body in the body, ardent, clearly
> comprehending (it) and mindful (of it), having overcome, in this
> world, covetousness and grief... Soma Thera
>
> a monk fares along **contemplating** the body in the body, ardent,
> clearly conscious (of it), mindful (of it) so as to control the
> covetousness and dejection in the world... Horner
>
> that bhikkhu is considered one who lives **constantly contemplating** body
> in bodies, strives to burn up defilements, comprehends readily, and
> is mindful, in order to abandon all liking and disliking toward the
> world... Buddhadasa
>
> in regard to the body a monk abides **contemplating** the body, diligent,
> clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in
> regard to the world. Analayo
>
> **Contemplates** the body in the body with effort, sampajañña and sati,
> eradicating covetousness and distress with regard to the world...
> Payutto
>
> These unpleasant feelings are dukkha-vedana and the contemplation of
> these feeling is vedananupassana, **contemplation** of feeling...
> Mahasi Sayadaw
It appears, from the ten translators above, the American Geoffrey DeGraff (also named Bhikkhu Thanissaro) has uniquely translated "anupassi" as "focused".
Questions:
1. Is Thanissaro's translation accurate? Is the English word "focused" synonymous with the other translations of "contemplating", "observing", "watching closely", etc?
2. Is there a possible downward path, misguidance &/or confusion in adhering & attaching to Thanissaro's translation? Why?
3. Is there a possible downward path in rejecting, admonishing &/or even ridiculing Thanissaro's translation? Why?
4. Is there a possible upward & even Noble path in rejecting, admonishing &/or even ridiculing Thanissaro's translation? Why?
Asked by Paraloka Dhamma Dhatu
(45860 rep)
Oct 22, 2020, 06:43 AM
Last activity: Oct 23, 2020, 08:08 PM
Last activity: Oct 23, 2020, 08:08 PM