Buddhist Doctrine

[Cal]

I have decided that I wish to take a personal inspection of the Pali Cannon, but after looking into what I may purchase, I noticed the work itself is quite large, and in sections. Descriptions on wikipedia are as follows;

Vinaya Pitaka: The first category, the Vinaya Pitaka, is mostly concerned with the rules of the sangha.

Sutta Pitaka: The second category is the Sutta Pitaka which consists primarily of accounts of the Buddha's teachings.

Abhidhamma Pitaka: The third category, the Abhidhamma Pitaka, is a collection of texts which give a systematic philosophical description of the nature of mind, matter and time.

Where might the GWV suggest I start, as it seems the range could be quite extensive. I feel as though I may not get as much out of reading the Abhidhamma Pitaka as I may the previous two. I actually have an odd feeling about the Abhidhamma Pitaka all-together just from reading the title.

[Jhanananda]

Just read the Sutta Pitaka, Majjima, Digha, and Samyutta nikayas.  You could read the others volumes of the Sutta Pitaka, if you are so interested, as well as the other volumes that you mentioned.

[Cal]

Verily, monks, whosoever practices these four corner stones of mindfulness in this manner for seven years, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

O monks, let alone seven years. Should any person practice these four corner stones of awareness in this manner for six years... five years... four years... three years... two years... one year, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

O monks, let alone a year. Should any person practice these four corner stones of awareness in this manner for seven months... six months... five months... four months... three months... two months... a month... half a month, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

O monks, let alone half a month. Should any person practice these four corner stones of awareness in this manner for a week, then one of these two fruits may be expected by him: highest knowledge here and now, or if some remainder of clinging is yet present, the state of non-returning.

Because of this it was said: "This is the only way, monks, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for reaching the right path, for the attainment of Nibbana, namely the four corner stones of awareness."

Thus spoke the Blessed One. Satisfied, the monks approved of one's words.

I found this quite interesting, thank you for your effort in editing it, Jhananada.

This re-enforces what we had spoken on in the past about the "ghost is out of the box". I would never take this for granted by any means. However, I do find encouragement to continue, regardless of what this life may throw at me or whatever bumps in the road I might encounter.

I understood this as the Buddha explaining to his monks that time searching is irrelevant. As once you have found and understood what was meant to be understood, one is no longer bound to return to this plane. I would add though that the four corner stones are not a practice, but experience that has been described as practice. (insert dog chasing tail here) Awareness.

Thus one lives contemplating consciousness in the various cognitive states internally, or one lives contemplating consciousness in the various cognitive states externally, or one lives contemplating consciousness in the various cognitive states internally and externally. One lives contemplating origination factors in cognition, or one lives contemplating dissolution-factors in cognition, or one lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution factors in cognition. Or one's awareness is established simply as, "cognition exists," to the extent necessary just for knowledge and awareness, and one lives detached, and clings to nothing in the world. Thus, monks, an aspirant lives contemplating consciousness in the various cognitive states.

This sequence is a good example of the Ebb of the Man, and Flow of the Spirit. I found it rather calming to read the Satipatthana Sutta.

I would note that the above sequence is not limited to only "cognition", but everything that Awareness may view of the man/woman.