Sammuti sacca, the truth of that which is not real

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Paramattha sacca, the truth of that which is real

(Excerpt from the Dhamma discussion with Ajahn Sujin on Zoom on Mon Jan 22nd 2024.)

[Sundara] If someone was asking you about paramattha sacca, what would your response be?

[A. Sujin] Paramattha, is it real?

[Sundara] Absolutely, Tan Ajahn.

[A. Sujin] And sacca is the truth of it, right? So, when we talk about paramattha sacca: the truth of that which is real. For example seeing is real, but what is the truth of it?

[Sundara] That's a difficult one Tan Ajahn

Understanding what is true and what is real

[A. Sujin] That's why without understanding what is true and what is real there cannot be the understanding of anything which appears because they do not appear as they are at all, arising and falling away, does anything appear to arise and fall away now? But what is the truth, paramattha sacca, the ultimate truth? Before it arises it's not there, as soon as it has arisen it's gone. This is so very true but it needs very careful understanding to understand each reality because when they are together something is there, no understanding of any truth at all, of one reality at a time.

Sammuti sacca, the truth about the idea of something

For example, there is seeing, right now, no doubt, but no understanding of the truth of it, so "seeing" is sammuti sacca of that which is paramattha sacca. When there's no paramattha sacca, how can there be sammuti sacca? But paramattha sacca has not been realized yet. That's why the idea of something is there, but not about the truth. But when it's about the truth, it is sammuti sacca, depending on the level of the truth.

For example, "he's a king", it's true: sammuti sacca. But seeing, it's real: it's paramattha sacca... and sammuti sacca, by words, but the words can be changed, instead of saying "seeing" we can change it to another word, but the truth cannot be changed, paramattha sacca cannot be changed.

Sammuti sacca: it's true, as it is - in words

So there are many meanings of sammuti too, but sammuti sacca: it's true, as it is - in words.

[Ann] Ajahn can you explain "sammuti sacca: it's true"?

[A. Sujin] Yes, in words. "I am talking to Khun Ann", is that true? Sammuti: "Ann" and "I", but when we say "I'm talking to Khun Ann", everyone knows it is sammuti.

[Ann] Thank you that helps.