Question : What is the difference between the panna which is theoretical understanding and the panna which directly penetrates the truth of the Dhamma?

Answer : At this moment people listen to the Dhamma and they understand what they hear, but this is not yet direct understanding which, when there is, for example, seeing, penetrates the true nature of this reality. Hearing appears at this moment and people know that it is a kind of nama, hearing- consciousness (sotavinnana), which arises and then falls away. They have theoretical understanding of this reality but they may not yet realize the true characteristic of the reality which hears sound, which is arising and falling away. Then there is only panna of the level of thinking, theoretical understanding of realities. Hearing which arises at this moment is real, it is a dhamma which arises and falls away. So long as one does not directly understand the truth of the reality appearing at this moment, there is only panna which is theoretical understanding, conditioned by listening. Whereas when someone directly understands and penetrates the true characteristics of realities, he knows that this kind of panna is different from theoretical understanding. First of all, people should know the characteristic of sati. Sati of the eightfold Path is not a "self" who is aware. Samma-sati, right mindfulness, of the eightfold Path is aware of the reality which is appearing. When it arises there is not merely theoretical understanding. Sati is directly aware of the characteristic of the reality which is appearing, so that its true nature can be understood at that moment. Thus, we can see the difference between theoretical understanding and panna which directly understands the characteristic of the reality which is appearing It is panna which can understand the characteristics of realities and we do not have to do anything special. If at this moment panna penetrates the characteristics of realities it is not because of self who has to make a special effort. There is no being, no person who is developing satipathhana. When sati arises and it is aware of realities, one can know the characteristic of sati and panna and in this way the wrong view which takes realities for self can gradually be eliminated. Finally, there can be clear understanding of the truth that everything which is appearing at this moment is dhamma. Dhammas are appearing every day through the doorways of the eyes, the ears, the nose, the tongue, the bodysense and the mind. When sati arises it is aware of realities, and if it does not arise there is ignorance which does not understand realities. Sati can be aware of the characteristics of realities which are appearing naturally, one does not have to do anything special. Wanting to know something else but what appears now is useless. Realities are already appearing at this moment and thus whatever appears now can be understood as it is.