A Critical Look at the Kitāgiri Sutta: Resolving a Key Textual Discrepancy
**A Critical Look at the Kitāgiri Sutta: Resolving a Key Textual Discrepancy** The Pāli Canon, the foundation of Theravāda Buddhism, offers profound insights into the stages of liberation. However, textual variations within the Canon sometimes reveal discrepancies that carry significant doctrinal implications. One such instance occurs in the **Kitāgiri Sutta** (MN 70), where a single word — the inclusion or exclusion of *na* ("not") — creates two opposing versions regarding noble disciples' attainment of "seeing with wisdom" (*paññāya cakkhuṃ*). By applying my **epistemological razors**, which prioritize direct experience, minimal assumptions, and doctrinal coherence, I have identified which version is utter most likely original and which reflects corruption. This post explores the issue, explains how one version aligns with the Dhamma, and critiques the influence of later commentarial frameworks like Buddhaghosa’s **Visuddhimagga**. --- ### **The Two...