For the 2nd of the 5 methods of dealing with unwanted thoughts (vitakka) in MN 20, I have questions about 2 words. iti-pi-me , upa-par-ikkhita-bbo .
I’m translating in a literal way to help myself learn pali in word by word order, with fluency as a secondary concern.
Here’s is the relevant part of the translation, my question follows below.
then, monks, (a) monk, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
(regarding) those thoughts, tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
(their) danger (he) should-deeply-inspect: ādīnavo upa-par-ikkhitabbo:
thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) un-skillful, ‘iti-pi-me vitakkā a-kusalā,
thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) blameworthy, iti-pi-me vitakkā s-āvajjā,
thus-indeed-my thoughts (have) suffering-(as the)-result.’ iti-pi-me vitakkā dukkha-vipākā’ti.
Then those thoughts Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
(whose) dangers (were) deeply-inspected, ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
The “pi” in Iti-pi-me is an emphatic right? The famous example of “itipiso bhagava araham” (thus indeed he (is) the-blessed-one, (the) arahant.
In this MN 20 context, I have the iti-pi-me as
thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) un-skillful,
thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) blameworthy,
thus-indeed-my thoughts (have) suffering-(as the)-result.’
But we’re talking about getting rid of unwanted thoughts in a Buddhist way, using discernment rather than just a trained animal reflex, so the “thus indeed” seems a little too mild in properly acknowledging the massive scale and significance of the root problem. What the text says to me is:
holy-shit!-my thoughts (are) un-skillful,
holy-shit!-my thoughts (are) blameworthy,
holy-shit!-my thoughts (have) suffering-(as the)-result.’
Since I live in a world with sensitive prudes, is there an alternate choice of words that captures the spirit as well?
I had a list of other 2 word emphatic options, but they all come from the same gutter so I need some help here.
“golly gee!”
“sweet christmas!”
(just a couple of ideas to get the creative juices flowing…)