nges 'byed cha mthun
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ངེས་འབྱེད་ཆ་མཐུན
- see also nges 'byed cha mthun bzhi
precursor to insight DKC
"watershed" factors [of the path of application] that differentiate it [from the path of ordinary beings] and accord with [the path of spiritually superior individuals; Aids to Penetration, partial concordance with definite differentiation [RY]
aids to penetration, partial concordance with definite differentiation [IW]
concordant with the definite differentiations [JV]
decisive (and anticipatory) phase; decisive phase [of the path of application] that accords with/ presages/ anticipates [the path of seeing], which constitutes a decisive breakthrough [that represents a shift from the - path of ordinary mortal individuals to that of spiritually superior individuals]; isc. "watershed" experiences [RB]
Aids to penetration, partial concordance with definite differentiation [so so skye bo las nges par 'byed pa 'phags pa'i lam gyi cha mthong lam skye ba dang rjes su mthun pa'o [IW]
sbyor lam pa'i dge ba ni nges par 'byed pa mthong lam gyi rgyu yin pas nges 'byed cha mthun 'aid to ascertainment' is the virtue of the path of joining because it is the cause of ascertaining the path of seeing. [RY]
Discussion
This term usually refers to the four stages of the path of joining. A literal translation is “partial concordance with certain discernment,” which Prince Yasomitra describes as follows: "How is it certain discernment? you ask. Reply: Because this discards doubt. It is coming to certainty that of the truths, 'This is suffering' up to 'This is the path' and discerns this, so it is called certain discernment. This is the Noble path. Its part is one aspect of the path of seeing, since it leads to that, because by causing it to arise it benefits it. Therefore it is called partial concordance with certain discernment." In the rje btsun ngal gso the Glorious Eighth Gyalwang Karmapa Mikyo Dorje describes the word nges pa here as referring to the direct recognition of the dharma nature on the Path of Seeing. However, this translation is excessively literal, clumsy, and long. English speakers do not often use the word "concordance" and so it smacks of jargon.
As described in the entry on cha mthun, cha mthun refers to a state that leads to another state. The word “precursor” seems to a good, simple, and idiomatic translation of this term. “Certain discernment” seems a bit verbose, and so insight seems a good substitute.
In addition to referring to the path of joining, nges ‘byed cha mthun can refer to the defiled pure dhyana that leads to an undefiled dhyana. DKC