Introduction to Dhammasangani

by U Ko Lay | 1993 | 7,776 words

By The Editorial Committee - Translation Section Department for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana Ministry of Religious Affairs, Yangoon, Myanmar, 1995 supplied by http://www.nibbana.com This introduction in a way may be regarded as a brief introduction to the Abhidhamma Pitaka as a whole. It is in two parts. The first part is about Abhi...

Section One

Section On Definition Of Dhamma Factors

The dhamma factors which constitute the first Meritorious Thought, numbering fifty-six, are first listed and then defined in the section on the definition of dhamma factors. Of these,

18 dhamma factors occur only once in the list;

  • 7 dhamma factors occur twice;
  • 1 dhamma factor occurs 3 times;
  • 2 dhamma factors occur 4 times;
  • 1 dhamma factor occurs 6 times;
  • 1 dhamma factor occurs 7 times;

Thus the list in this section in reality consists of only 30 dhamma factors.

(a) The 18 dhamma factors which occur only once in the list are:

  1. phassa, contact;
  2. sanna, perception;
  3. cetana, volition;
  4. vicara, sustained application of the mind;
  5. piti, delightful satisfaction;
  6. jivitindriya, faculty of vitality;
  7. kaya passaddhi, equanimity of mental concomitants
  8. citta passaddhi, serenity of mind;
  9. kaya lahuta, quickness of mental concomitants;
  10. citta lahuta, quickness of mind;
  11. kaya muduta, malleability of mental concomitants;
  12. citta muduta, malleability of mind;
  13. kaya kammannata, preparedness (for good action) of mental concomitants;
  14. citta kammannata, preparedness (for good action) of mind;
  15. kaya pagunnata, soundness of mental concomitants;
  16. citta pagunnata, soundness of mind;
  17. kayujukata, rectitude of mental concomitants;
  18. cittujukata, rectitude of mind.

The dhamma factors which occur more than once, occur either in a modified

(b) The 7 dhamma factors each of which occurs twice in the list are:

  1. Citta (mind), as citta (mind) and as manindriya (faculty of mind).
  2. Vitakka (initial application of mind), as vitakka (initial application of mind) and as samma sankappa (Right Thinking).
  3. Saddha (conviction), as saddhindriya (faculty of conviction) and as saddhabala (power of conviction).
  4. Hiri, being ashamed (to do evil), as hiri, being ashamed (to do evil) and as hiribala, power of being ashamed (to do evil).
  5. Ottappa, fear (to do evil), as ottappa, fear (to do evil) and as ottappabala, power of fear (to do evil).
  6. Alobha (non-greed), as alobha (non-greed) and as anabhijjha (non-covetousness).
  7. Adosa (non-hatred), as adosa(non-hatred) and as abyapada (not having ill will).

(c) One dhamma factor which occurs 3 times in the list:

Vedana (sensation), as vedana (sensation), as sukha (happiness), and as somanassindriya (faculty of mental pleasantness).

(d) The 2 dhamma factors each of which occurs 4 times in the list are:

1. Viriya (endeavour), as viriyindriya (faculty of endeavour), as sammavayama (Right Effort), as viriyabala (power of endeavour) and as paggaha (endeavour).

2. Sati (mindfulness), as satindriya (faculty of mindfulness), as sammasati (Right Mindfulness), as satibala (power of mindfulness) and as sati (mindfulness).

(e) One dhamma factor which occurs 6 times in the list:

Samadhi (concentration), as samatha (calm or tranquillity of mind), as cittassekaggata (one pointedness of mind), as samadhindriya (faculty of concentration), as samadhibala (power of concentration), as samma samadhi (Right Concentration) and as avikkhepa (non-distraction).

(f) One dhamma factor which occurs 7 times in the list:

Panna (wisdom), as pannindriya (faculty of wisdom), as sammaditthi (Right View as a constituent of the Ariya Path), as pannabala (Power of Wisdom), as amoha (non-bewilderment), as sammaditthi (Right View as a mental factor for good action), as sampajanna (clear comprehension) and as vipassana (insight).

This section on the definition of the dhamma factors contains two sub-sections which are termed (i) Exposition in Brief and (ii) Detailed Exposition.

The Exposition in Brief is made up of the following seventeen groups of dhamma factors:

1. Group of five headed by Phassa:

  1. Phassa, contact;
  2. Vedana, sensation;
  3. Sanna, perception;
  4. Cetana, volition;
  5. Citta, thought.

2. Five Jhana factors:

  1. Vitakka, initial application of the mind;
  2. Vicara, sustained application of the mind;
  3. Piti, delightful satisfaction;
  4. Sukha, bliss or happiness;
  5. Cittassekaggata, one-pointedness of mind.

3. Eight Faculties:

  1. Saddhindriya, faculty of conviction;
  2. Viriyindriya, faculty of endeavour;
  3. Satindriya, faculty of mindfulness;
  4. Samadhindriya, faculty of concentration;
  5. Pannindriya, faculty of wisdom;
  6. Manindriya, faculty of mind;
  7. Somanassindriya, faculty of mental pleasantness;
  8. Jivitindriya, faculty of vitality.

4. Five Constituents of the Ariya Path:

  1. Sammaditthi, Right View;
  2. Sammasankappa, Right Thinking;
  3. Sammavayama, Right Effort;
  4. Sammasati, Right Mindfulness;
  5. Sammasamadhi, Right Concentration.

5. Seven Powers:

  1. Saddhahala, power of conviction;
  2. Viriyabala, power of endeavour;
  3. Satibala, power of mindfulness;
  4. Samadhibala, power of concentration;
  5. Pannabala, power of wisdom;
  6. Hiribala, power of being ashamed (to do evil);
  7. Ottappabala, power of fear (to do evil).

6. Three Root Causes:

  1. Alobha, non-greed;
  2. Adosa, non-hatred;
  3. Amoha, non-bewilderment.

7. Three mental factors for good actions:

  1. Anabhijjha, non-covetousness;
  2. Abyapada, not having illwill;
  3. Sammaditthi, right view.

8. Two mental factors safeguarding the world:

  1. Hiri, being ashamed (to do evil);
  2. Ottappa, fear (to do evil).

9. Two factors of serenity:

  1. Kayapassaddhi,serenityofmentaI concomitants;
  2. Citta passaddhi, serenity of mind.

l0. Two forms of quickness:

  1. Kaya lahuta, quickness of mental concomitants;
  2. Citta lahuta, quickness of mind.

11. Two forms of malleability:

  1. Kaya muduta, malleability of mental concomitants;
  2. Citta muduta, malleability of mind.

12. Two forms of preparedness:

  1. Kaya kammannata, preparedness (for good action) of mental concomitants;
  2. Citta kammannata, preparedness (for good action) of mind.

13. Two forms of soundness:

  1. kaya pagunnata, soundness of mental concomitants;
  2. Citta pagunnata, soundness of mind.

14. Two forms of rectitude:

  1. Kayujukata, rectitude of mental concomitants;
  2. Cittujukata, rectitude of mind.

15. Sati, mindfulness and Sampajanna, clear comprehension.

16. Mental cultivation:

  1. Samatha, cultivation of calm;
  2. Vipassana, development of insight.

 

17. Two forms of mental discipline:

  1. Paggaha, endeavour;
  2. Avikkhepa, non-distraction (of concentration).
Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: