Grammatical Analysis
Udayabbayañāṇa: [nt.] Knowledge of arising and passing away. Formed by udaya (arising, birth) + vaya/abbaya (passing away, destruction) + ñāṇa (knowledge).
Orthodox Definition
Udayabbayañāṇa is a critical turning point in insight meditation. It is the direct, unmediated vision of the rapid, continuous generation and dissolution of physical and mental phenomena at the microscopic level.
Initially, this knowledge is “tender,” during which the meditator may experience the Ten Corruptions of Insight (upakkilesa)—such as brilliant auras of light, overwhelming rapture, and intense faith. The practitioner must use discernment to avoid clinging to these sublime states as awakening. Once these corruptions are bypassed, the knowledge becomes “mature” (balava-udayabbaya-ñāṇa). The meditator no longer relies on inductive reasoning but literally sees existence as an incredibly fast succession of flashing realities.
Textual References
- Canonical: Paṭisambhidāmagga – The definitive structural breakdown of the fifty ways of contemplating arising and passing away.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter XX & XXI) – Marking the transition between “Purification of the Path” and “Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Way.”