Difference between revisions of "Dhātu"
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* earth, (pathavī-dhātu) | * earth, (pathavī-dhātu) | ||
* water, (āpo-dhātu) | * water, (āpo-dhātu) | ||
| − | * | + | * [[Fire]], (tejo-dhātu) |
* wind, (vāyo-dhātu) | * wind, (vāyo-dhātu) | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
* by hardness (thaddha-lakkkhana) is the earth or solid-element; | * by hardness (thaddha-lakkkhana) is the earth or solid-element; | ||
* by cohesion (ābandhana) or fluidity, the water-element; | * by cohesion (ābandhana) or fluidity, the water-element; | ||
| − | * by heating (paripācana), the | + | * by heating (paripācana), the [[Fire]] or heat-element; |
* by strengthening or supporting (vitthambhana), the wind or motion-element. | * by strengthening or supporting (vitthambhana), the wind or motion-element. | ||
All four are present in every material object, though in varying degrees of strength. If, for instance, the earth element predominates, the material object is called 'solid', etc. - For the analysis of the 4 elements, s. dhātu-vavatthāna. | All four are present in every material object, though in varying degrees of strength. If, for instance, the earth element predominates, the material object is called 'solid', etc. - For the analysis of the 4 elements, s. dhātu-vavatthāna. | ||
| − | (II) The 18 physical and | + | (II) The 18 physical and [[Mental]] elements that constitute the conditions or foundations of the process of [[Perception]], are: |
<poem> | <poem> | ||
1. visual organ (eye) | 1. visual organ (eye) | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
3. olfactory organ (nose) | 3. olfactory organ (nose) | ||
4. gustatory organ (tongue) | 4. gustatory organ (tongue) | ||
| − | 5. tactile organ ( | + | 5. tactile organ ([[Body]]) |
6. visible object | 6. visible object | ||
| − | 7. | + | 7. [[Sound]] or audible object |
8. odour or olfactive object | 8. odour or olfactive object | ||
9. gustative object | 9. gustative object | ||
| − | 10. | + | 10. [[Body]]-impression |
| − | 11. eye- | + | 11. eye-[[Consciousness]] |
| − | 12. ear- | + | 12. ear-[[Consciousness]] |
| − | 13. nose- | + | 13. nose-[[Consciousness]] |
| − | 14. tongue- | + | 14. tongue-[[Consciousness]] |
| − | 15. | + | 15. [[Body]]-[[Consciousness]] |
| − | 16. | + | 16. [[Mind]]-element |
| − | 17. | + | 17. [[Mind]]-object (mano-dhātu) ([[Dhamma]]-dhātu) |
| − | 18. | + | 18. [[Mind]]-[[Consciousness]]-element (mano-[[Viññāna]]-dhātu) |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
| − | 1-10 are physical; 11-16 and 18 are | + | 1-10 are physical; 11-16 and 18 are [[Mental]]; 17 may be either physical or [[Mental]]. |
| − | 16 performs the function of advertence (āvajjana) towards the object at the inception of a process of sensuous | + | 16 performs the function of advertence (āvajjana) towards the object at the inception of a process of sensuous [[Consciousness]]; it further performs the function of receiving (sampaticchana) the sensuous object. |
| − | 18 performs, e.g., the function of | + | 18 performs, e.g., the function of [[Investigation]] (santīrana), determining (votthapana) and registering (tadārammana) |
| − | For the 14 functions of | + | For the 14 functions of [[Consciousness]], s. [[Viññāna-kicca]]. |
Cf. M. 115; S. XIV and especially Vibh. II (Guide p. 28f), Vis.M. XV, 17ff. | Cf. M. 115; S. XIV and especially Vibh. II (Guide p. 28f), Vis.M. XV, 17ff. | ||
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| − | Of the many further groupings of elements (enumerated in M.115), the best known is that of the 3 | + | Of the many further groupings of elements (enumerated in M.115), the best known is that of the 3 [[World]]-elements: |
| − | * the sensuous | + | * the sensuous [[World]] ([[Kāma]]-dhātu), |
| − | * the fine-material | + | * the fine-material [[World]] ([[Rūpa]]-dhātu), |
| − | * the immaterial | + | * the immaterial [[World]] (arūpa-dhātu); |
further the six-fold group: | further the six-fold group: | ||
| Line 70: | Line 70: | ||
* motion, (vāyo) | * motion, (vāyo) | ||
* space, (ākāsa) | * space, (ākāsa) | ||
| − | * | + | * [[Consciousness]] ([[Viññāna]]; s. above I), described in M.140; see also M.112. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Revision as of 17:01, 8 April 2013
'elements', are the ultimate constituents of a whole.
(1) The 4 physical elements (dhātu or mahā-bhūta), popularly called:
- earth, (pathavī-dhātu)
- water, (āpo-dhātu)
- Fire, (tejo-dhātu)
- wind, (vāyo-dhātu)
are to be understood as the primary qualities of matter.
In Vis.M. XI, 2 the four elements are defined thus:
"Whatever is characterized:
- by hardness (thaddha-lakkkhana) is the earth or solid-element;
- by cohesion (ābandhana) or fluidity, the water-element;
- by heating (paripācana), the Fire or heat-element;
- by strengthening or supporting (vitthambhana), the wind or motion-element.
All four are present in every material object, though in varying degrees of strength. If, for instance, the earth element predominates, the material object is called 'solid', etc. - For the analysis of the 4 elements, s. dhātu-vavatthāna.
(II) The 18 physical and Mental elements that constitute the conditions or foundations of the process of Perception, are:
1. visual organ (eye)
2. auditory organ (ear)
3. olfactory organ (nose)
4. gustatory organ (tongue)
5. tactile organ (Body)
6. visible object
7. Sound or audible object
8. odour or olfactive object
9. gustative object
10. Body-impression
11. eye-Consciousness
12. ear-Consciousness
13. nose-Consciousness
14. tongue-Consciousness
15. Body-Consciousness
16. Mind-element
17. Mind-object (mano-dhātu) (Dhamma-dhātu)
18. Mind-Consciousness-element (mano-Viññāna-dhātu)
1-10 are physical; 11-16 and 18 are Mental; 17 may be either physical or Mental.
16 performs the function of advertence (āvajjana) towards the object at the inception of a process of sensuous Consciousness; it further performs the function of receiving (sampaticchana) the sensuous object.
18 performs, e.g., the function of Investigation (santīrana), determining (votthapana) and registering (tadārammana)
For the 14 functions of Consciousness, s. Viññāna-kicca.
Cf. M. 115; S. XIV and especially Vibh. II (Guide p. 28f), Vis.M. XV, 17ff.
Of the many further groupings of elements (enumerated in M.115), the best known is that of the 3 World-elements:
- the sensuous World (Kāma-dhātu),
- the fine-material World (Rūpa-dhātu),
- the immaterial World (arūpa-dhātu);
further the six-fold group:
- solid, (pathavī)
- liquid, (āpo)
- heat, (tejo)
- motion, (vāyo)
- space, (ākāsa)
- Consciousness (Viññāna; s. above I), described in M.140; see also M.112.
