Prior To

There are a foreword and two editorial notes at the beginning of the book, pages xix to xxvi. In the foreword, a Taiwanese monk mentions the three trainings of morality, concentration and wisdom as fundamental to Buddhist practice, and that they are found in the Vissudhimagga http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf, written by Buddhagosa around 430 CE.   He mentions that Pa-Auk Sayadaw's teachings are based on the Vissudhimagga's instructions on attaining the stages of purification and insight-knowledges.

The editorial notes reflect on the imperfections of translation and make mention of Pa-Auk Sayadaw's approach as: "to practise tranquility meditation first, after which to use it as a vehicle for insight meditation."

This is a kind of corrolary to the experience of the Buddha, surrounded by masters of concentration upon this or that, or upon nothingness, he was not satisfied until suffering had been expunged.

PAGE ONE:  Here is an addition to the original edition of Knowing and Seeing, from the Pathamakotigama Sutta, called The Buddha's Dispensation.  In this section, the Buddha addresses the Vaijans saying ". . . because of not understanding and not penetrating the Four Noble Truths. . . you and I have for a long time wandered the round of rebirth.", and then goes on to each specific Truth in the same way, ending on the beginning of page two with the assertion that now they have been understood and penetrated.  

I looked up the word 'pativedha' (penetrating) and it translates as;

'penetration',
signifies the realization of the truth of the Dhamma, as distinguished from the mere acquisition of its wording (pariyatti), or the practice (patipatti) of it, in other words, realization as distinguished from theory and practice. Cf. pariyatti.  http://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pativedha/index.html 

I think of those things that penetrate, and as the Buddha says in the Dhammapadda,  The scent of Dharma even flies against the wind.   What do we see suffering with?  A trained eye, or heart, or mind can see it for what it is.