Chapter 12. The Threefold Training (Trisikkha)
The Threefold Training (Trisikkha)
Moralise.. our discipline..
Strengthen.. our mindfulness..
Sharpen.. our wisdom.. These are the Threefold Training in Buddhism.
(Pittaya Wong)
The Threefold Training or Trisikkha
is the key teaching in Buddhism which can be subcategorized further into the
Noble Eightfold Path which is the ‘heart’ of Buddhism.
The Threefold Training comprises of:
(i) Moral Discipline (Sila)
(ii) Mindfulness, Mental Calm &
Focus (Samadhi), and
(iii) Wisdom (Panna)
In general, moral discipline is
about precept observance for our thought, speech, and action whereas mental
concentration or focus is the development of our mind which leads to mental
calm. Lastly, wisdom promotes good knowledge
and understanding about Buddhist teaching, life, and the Existence.
The
three trainings should be applied into practice for our wholesome daily living,
starting from Moral Discipline which creates a good foundation for Mindfulness
(Mental Calm & Focus), which eventually yield effective Wisdom.
According
to our Dhammonomic equation on the Threefold Training,
Wholesomeness
=
(Moral
Discipline + Mindfulness + Wisdom) > (Lust + Anger + Delusion)
The
equation shows the relativity of doctrine in such a way that the Threefold
Training namely Moral Discipline, Mindfulness, and Wisdom have the opposing
disvirtues namely Lust, Anger, and Delusion whose quality are the direct opposite. In the same manner, Lust, Anger, and Delusion
can be subcategorized further into many more disvirtues in details.
Thus,
in order to maintain the ‘Wholesomeness’ in our mind, our virtues (the Threefold
Training) must be greater than the disvirtues.
Moral
Discipline (sila) develops our Behavioral Quotient
Meditation (Samadhi) develops our Emotional Quotient
Wisdom (panna) develops our Intelligence Quotient
Altogether, they enable our enlightenment experience.
(Pittaya Wong)
The
explanation about the Threefold Training, so far, is in term of practice. However, the concept of Threefold Training can
be explained further in the sublime level of meditative state. And we express this phenomena with our main
diagram where the three circles of Moral Discipline, Mindfulness, and Wisdom,
overlap each other.
The
importance of this diagram is that when the Moral Discipline and Wisdom are in
the meditative state, they become the Sublime Moral Discipline (Adhi-Sila) and
Sublime Wisdom (Adhi-Panna). Most of
all, when the Mindfulness or Mental Calm & Concentration develops on
Sublime Moral Discipline and Sublime Wisdom as well as developing itself into
the meditative state, it becomes Sublime Mind (Adhi-Citta). These are purely superlative mental qualities
or state of mind occurring in meditation.
By
Pittaya Wong
7
August 2018
