Yoniso manasikāra - The Many Faces Of Wise Reflection

[Danny]

Bhante Sujato shared an essay about the translation:

On the meaning of yoniso

The rendering of the Pali term yoniso poses a number of difficulties, some of which which I have discussed in previous posts. I will mention again the major issues, together with a new text that well illustrates the main point. It is from the root yoni, meaning “womb” and by extension “source”. It seems that the non-Buddhist sources only know this meaning, and that the usage in Buddhism is quite distinct. It is an ablative adverb functioning as an indeclinable (cp. sabbaso, bhiyyoso), conveyin…

I also like the translation ‘causewise attention’:

On the meaning of yoniso

Maybe, uhh, it doesn’t really sign to me. I’m definitely open to suggestions. I think technically the best translation would be “causewise attention”. But it’s a little too Hybrid English. Maybe “reasoned attention” would be better. There are ways a translation can play with this. For example, give a more “explanatory” rendering the first time, then abbreviate down the page. So there is certainly wiggle room. I’m just not seeing a compelling option right now.