Conventional, when it's something

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[Sukin] Ajahn, I have a question about conventional reality. For example if I think about a unicorn, which is something that's imagined and that's not a conventional reality...

[A. Sujin] Not conventional? When it's something?

[Sukin] When it's conventional it has to be something.

[A. Sujin] Because sañña is there, marks and remembers, it depends on whether there is the idea of self or not. When there is the understanding of the function of sañña, that it marks and remembers what is there appearing from moment to moment as different shape and form and idea it is sañña, not me. So understanding what is really meant by conventional truth. Even the Buddha called Ananda and Sariputta and so on, conventional? That's why to understand the truth of it and the way how it conditions such idea of conventional thing, if there is no thinking there cannot be conventional ideas at all, but understanding that at moment of experiencing the conventional term, what is there? Not me. So, the understanding of no self and no thing and what is that? It's the absolute truth that actually, even at that moment, there is no I, but there are different paramattha dhammas, sañña and so on.

[Sukin] So what qualifies a concept as being conventionally true or not?

[A. Sujin] When there's no understanding of the absolute truth at all, we take it for [being] so real, right? It's me, it's you, it's such and such. But when there is the understanding of it's just a moment, which follows, from moment to moment, to be idea of that which is experienced, seen or heard, that's all, and then gone. Otherwise, how can there be the letting go of what is there, so very seriously. No matter it is strong lobha or strong dosa or strong kilesa. Everything has to be studied carefully and directly experienced, until it's there as no more thing, even thinking is that moment, it's not me.

[Sukin] In my own experience I would call this a table and not a chair.

[A. Sujin] Yes, but it doesn't matter about sound, what about the idea of the shape and form, can you change that?

[Sukin] Yes, the shape and form wouldn't change, that's why a table is a table a chair is a chair.

[A. Sujin] Even you don't call it. And that's what is meant by conventional.

[Sukin] That's what I mean, that's what I wanted to know, O.K.

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Video image: Eastern Gate, rear view, Sanchi Great Stupa