➥ paññuttara:

• for paññuttara:
  • penetrative discernment is the examiner
  • penetrative discernment as the examiner

Dictionaries

Uttara means:

• DOP: ‘chief result or characteristic; what is left; excess.’
• PED: ‘having something above or higher, having a superior.’

But neither explanation fits the contexts of paññuttara. We will show that uttara means ‘examiner.’

Translators

Bodhi says the commentary ‘does not explain in what sense paññā is called uttarā,’ and renders paññuttarā sabbe dhammā as ‘Wisdom is of all things their supervisor’ (Bodhi, AN iv 339).

Sikkhānisaṁsa Sutta

The Sikkhānisaṁsa Sutta (AN ii 243) shows that the meaning of paññuttaraṁ can be derived from paññāya samavekkhitā honti:

• In accordance with way I explain the teachings to disciples for the complete destruction of suffering, those teachings are examined by them with penetrative discernment (paññāya samavekkhitā honti). In this way penetrative discernment is the examiner (paññuttaraṁ hoti).

Yathā yathā bhikkhave mayā sāvakānaṁ dhammā desitā sabbaso sammā dukkhakkhayāya tathā tathāssa te dhammā paññāya samavekkhitā honti. Evaṁ kho bhikkhave paññuttaraṁ hoti. (AN ii 243)

This suggests that uttaraṁ can be named after samavekkhati, for which PED says:

• Samavekkhati: to consider, examine.
• Samavekkhitar: one who considers.

This supports our term for paññuttarā.

➥ paññuttaraṁ: (main article see: paññuttara)

Illustration: paññuttaraṁ, penetrative discernment as the examiner

This religious life is lived for the sake of a benefit from the training, with penetrative discernment as the examiner, with liberation [from perceptually obscuring states] as its essence, with mindfulness as its master.

Sikkhānisaṁsamidaṁ bhikkhave brahmacariyaṁ vussati paññuttaraṁ vimuttisāraṁ satādhipateyyaṁ. (AN ii 243)

Illustration: paññuttaraṁ, penetrative discernment is the examiner

And how is penetrative discernment the examiner?

Kathañca bhikkhave paññuttaraṁ hoti?

In this regard, the teachings are explained by me to disciples for the complete destruction of suffering

Idha bhikkhave mayā sāvakānaṁ dhammā desitā sabbaso sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

In accordance with way I explain the teachings to disciples for the complete destruction of suffering, those teachings are examined by them with penetrative discernment.

Yathā yathā bhikkhave mayā sāvakānaṁ dhammā desitā sabbaso sammā dukkhakkhayāya tathā tathāssa te dhammā paññāya samavekkhitā honti.

In this way penetrative discernment is the examiner

Evaṁ kho bhikkhave paññuttaraṁ hoti. (AN ii 243)

➥ paññuttarā: (main article see: paññuttara)

Illustration: paññuttarā, penetrative discernment is the examiner

• Penetrative discernment is the examiner of all things.

paññuttarā sabbe dhammā

• Liberation [from perceptually obscuring states] is the essence of all things.

vimuttisārā sabbe dhammā ti. (AN iv 339)