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abandonment, contemplation of: patinissaggánupassaná, is one of the 18 chief kinds of insight; s. vipassaná, further ánápánasati (16).
abbhokásik'anga: 'living in the open air', is one of the ascetic means to purification (dhutanga, q.v.).
aberration (in morality and understanding): s. vipatti.
abhabbágamana: 'incapable of progressing'. "Those beings who are obstructed by their evil actions (kamma, s. karma), by their defilements (kilesa, q.v.), by the result of their evil actions (s. vipáka), or who are devoid of faith, energy and knowledge, and unable to enter the right path and reach perfection in wholesome things, all those are said to be incapable of progressing" (Pug. 13). According to Commentary the 'evil actions' denote the 5 heinous deeds with immediate result (ánantarika-kamma, q.v.), whilst the 'defilements' refer to the 'evil views with fixed destiny' (niyata-micchá-ditthi; s. ditthi).
ábhassara: The 'Radiant Ones', are a class of heavenly beings of the fine-material world (rúpa-loka); cf. deva.
abhibháyatana: the 8 'stages of mastery', are powers to be obtained by means of the kasina-exercises (s. kasina). In the Com. to M. 77, where áyatana is explained by 'means' (kárana) it is said: "The abhibháyatana through their counteracting may master (suppress) the adverse states, and by means of higher knowledge they may master the objects of mind." They are means for transcending the sensuous sphere.
The stereotype text often met with in the Suttas (e.g. D. 11, 33; M. 77; A. VIII, 65; X, 29) is as follows:
(1) "Perceiving (blue..., red..., yellow..., white) forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally small ones, beautiful or ugly; and in mastering these one understands: 'I know, I understand.' This is the first stage of mastery.
(2) "Perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, large ones .... This is the second stage of mastery.
(3) "Not perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, small ones .... This is the third stage of mastery.
(4) "Not perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, large ones .... This is the fourth stage of mastery.
(5) "Not perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, blue forms, forms of blue color, blue appearance, blue lustre, and mastering these one understands: 'I know, I understand. This is the fifth stage of mastery."
(6-8) The same is repeated with yellow, red and white forms.
As preparatory kasina-object for the 1st and 2nd exercise one should choose on one's own body a small or a large spot, beautiful or ugly, and thereon one should concentrate one's full undivided attention, so that this object after a while reappears as mental reflex or image (nimitta, q.v.) and, as it were, as something external. Such an exercise, though appearing quite mechanical, if properly carried out will bring about a high degree of mental concentration and entrance into the 4 absorptions (jhána, q.v.). In the 3rd and 4th exercises the monk by an external kasina-object gains the mental reflexes and absorptions. As objects of the remaining exercises, perfectly clear and radiant colors should be chosen, flowers, cloth, etc.
A kasina-object of small size is said to be suitable for a mentally unsteady nature, one of a large size for a dull nature, a beautiful object for an angry nature, an ugly one for a lustful nature.
In Vis.M. V it is said: "By means of the earth-kasina one succeeds in reaching the stage of mastery with regard to small and large objects .... By means of the blue-kasina one succeeds in causing blue forms to appear, in producing darkness, in reaching the stage of mastery with regard to beautiful and ugly colours, in reaching 'deliverance through the beautiful', etc." (cf. vimokkha II, 3). The same is also said with regard to the other colour kasinas.
abhijjhá: 'covetousness' is a synonym of lobha (s. múla) and tanhá (q.v.) and is the 8th link of the unwholesome courses of action (s. kamma-patha, I).
abhinibbatti: a Sutta term for rebirth; s. punabbhava.
abhiññá: The 6 'higher powers', or supernormal knowledge's, consist of 5 mundane (lokiya, q.v.) powers attainable through the utmost perfection in mental concentration (samádhi, q.v.) and one supermundane (lokuttara, q.v.) power attainable through penetrating insight (vipassaná, q.v.), i.e. extinction of all cankers (ásavakkhaya; s. ásava), in other words, realization of Arahatship or Holiness. They are: (1) magical powers (iddhi-vidha), (2) divine ear (dibba-sota), (3) penetration of the minds of others (ceto-pariya-ñána), (4) remembrance of former existences (pubbe-nivásánussati), (5) divine eye (dibba-cakkhu), (6) extinction of all cankers (ásavakkhaya). The stereotype text met with in all the 4 Sutta-collections (e.g. D. 34; M. 4, 6, 77; A. III, 99; V, 23; S. XV, 9 and Pug. 271, 239) is as follows:
(1) "Now, O Bhikkhus, the monk enjoys the various magical powers (iddhi-vidha), such as being one he becomes manifold, and having become manifold he again becomes one. He appears and disappears. Without being obstructed he passes through walls and mountains, just as if through the air. In the earth he dives and rises up again, just as if in the water. He walks on water without sinking, just as if on the earth. Cross-legged he floats through the air, just like a winged bird. With his hand he touches the sun and moon, these so mighty ones, so powerful ones. Even up to the Brahma-world he has mastery over his body.
(2) "With the divine ear (dibba-sota) he hears sounds both heavenly and human, far and near.
(3) "He knows the minds of other beings (parassa ceto-pariya-ñána), of other persons, by penetrating them with his own mind. He knows the greedy mind as greedy and the not-greedy one as not greedy; knows the hating mind as hating and the not-hating one as not hating; knows the deluded mind as deluded and the not-deluded one as not deluded; knows the shrunken mind and the distracted one, the developed mind and the undeveloped one, the surpassable mind and the unsurpassable one, the concentrated mind and the unconcentrated one, the freed mind and the unfreed one.
(4) "He remembers manifold former existences (pubbe-nivásánussati), such as one birth, two, three, four and five births .... hundred thousand births; remembers many formations and dissolutions of worlds: 'There I was, such name I had .... and vanishing from there I entered into existence somewhere else .... and vanishing from there I again reappeared here.' Thus he remembers, always together with the marks and peculiarities, many a former existence .
(5) ''With the divine eye (dibba-cakkhu = yathá-kammúpaga-ñána or cutúpapáta-ñána), the pure one, he sees beings vanishing and reappearing, low and noble ones, beautiful and ugly ones, sees how beings are reappearing according to their deeds (s. karma): 'These beings, indeed, followed evil ways in bodily actions, words and thoughts, insulted the noble ones, held evil views, and according to their evil views they acted. At the dissolution of their body, after death, they have appeared in lower worlds, in painful states of existence, in the world of suffering, in hell. Those other beings, however, are endowed with good action .... have appeared in happy state of existence, in a heavenly world.
(6) "Through the extinction of all cankers (ásavakkhaya) even in this very life he enters into the possession of deliverance of mind, deliverance through wisdom, after having himself understood and realized it.''
4-6 appear frequently under the name of the 'threefold (higher) knowledge' (te-vijjá, q.v.). They are, however, not a necessary condition for the attainment of sainthood (arahatta), i.e. of the sixth abhiññá.
Vis.M. XI-XIII gives a detailed explanation of the 5 mundane higher powers, together with the method of attaining them.
In connection with the 4 kinds of progress (s. patipadá), abhiññá means the 'comprehension' achieved on attainment of the paths and fruitions.
abhisamácárika-síla: 'morality consisting in good behaviour', relates to the external duties of a monk such as towards his superior, etc. "abhisamácárika-síla is a name for those moral rules other than the 8 ending with right livelihood (i.e. 4-fold right speech, 3-fold right action and right livelihood, as in the Eightfold Path) (Vis.M. I; s. sacca IV, 3-5). "Impossible is it, o monks, that without having fulfilled the law of good behaviour, a monk could fulfil the law of genuine pure conduct" (A.V, 21). Cf. ádibrahmacariyakasíla.
abhisamaya: 'truth-realization', is the full and direct grasp of the Four Noble Truths by the Stream-winner (Sotápanna; s. ariya-puggala). In the Com. the term is represented by 'penetration' (pativedha, q.v.). Frequently occurring as dhammábhisamaya, 'realization of the doctrine' Cf. S. XIII (Abhisamaya Samyutta) and Pts.M. (Abhisamaya Kathá).
abhisankhára: identical with the 2nd link of the paticca-samuppáda (q.v.), sankhára (q.v.; under I, 1) or karmaformations .
ability to acquire insight: cf. ugghatitaññú, vipacitaññú neyya.
abodes: vihára (q.v.). The 4 Divine a.: brahma-vihára (q.v.) The 9 a. of beings: sattávása (q.v.).
absence: natthi-paccaya, is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, (q.v.).
absorption: s. jhána.
abstentions, the 3: virati (q.v.).
access, Moment of: s. javana.
access-concentration: s. samádhi.
accumulation (of Karma): áyúhana (q.v.).
ácinnaka-kamma: habitual karma; s. karma.
acinteyya: lit. 'That which cannot or should not be thought, the unthinkable, incomprehensible, impenetrable, that which transcends the limits of thinking and over which therefore one should not ponder. These 4 unthinkables are: the sphere of a Buddha (buddha-visaya), of the meditative absorptions (jhána-visaya), of karma-result (kamma-vipáka), and brooding over the world (loka-cintá), especially over an absolute first beginning of it (s. A. IV, 77).
"Therefore, o monks, do not brood over the world as to whether it is eternal or temporal, limited or endless .... Such brooding, O monks, is senseless, has nothing to do with genuine pure conduct (s. ádibrahmacariyaka-síla), does not lead to aversion, detachment, extinction, nor to peace, to full comprehension, enlightenment and Nibbána, etc." (S.LVI, 41).
acquired image (during concentration): s. nimitta, samádhi, kasina.
action: karma (q.v.) - Right bodily a.: sammá-kammanta; s. sacca (IV.4)
adaptability (of body, mental factors and consciousness): kammaññatá (q.v.); cf. khandha (corporeality) and Tab. II.
adaptation-knowledge: anuloma-ñána (q.v.).
adherence: parámása (q.v.)
adherent: upásaka (q.v.)
adhicitta-sikkhá 'training in higher mentality'; s. sikkhá.
adhimokkha: 'determination', decision, resolve: is one of the mental concomitants (cetasika) and belongs to the group of mental formations (sankhára-kkhandha). In M. 111, it is mentioned together with other mental concomitants. See Tab. II, III.
adhipaññá-dhamma-vipassaná: 'insight into things based on higher wisdom', is one of the 18 chief kinds of insight (s. vipassaná).
adhipati-paccaya: 'predominance-condition' is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.); if developed, it is considered as the fourfold road to power (iddhi-páda. q.v.).
adhisíla-sikkhá: 'training in higher morality': s. sikkhá.
adhitthána, as a doctrinal term, occurs chiefly in two meanings:
1. 'Foundation': four 'foundations' of an Arahat's mentality, mentioned and explained in M. 140: the foundation of wisdom (paññá), of truthfulness (sacca) of liberality (cága) and of peace (upasama). See also D. 33 and Com.
2. 'Determination', resolution, in: adhitthána-iddhi, 'magical power of determination' (s. iddhi); adhitthána-páramí, 'perfection of resolution' (s. páramí).
ádibrahmacariyaka-síla: 'morality of genuine pure conduct', consists in right speech, right bodily action and right livelihood, forming the 3rd, 4th and 5th links of the Eightfold Path (s. sacca, IV.3, 4, 5); cf. Vis.M. I. In A. II, 86 it is said:
"With regard to those moral states connected with and corresponding to the genuine pure conduct, he is morally strong, morally firm and trains himself in the moral rules taken upon himself. After overcoming the 3 fetters (ego-belief. skeptic doubt and attachment to mere rules and ritual; s. samyojana) he becomes one who will be 'reborn seven times at the utmost' (s. Sotápanna) and after only seven times more wandering through this round of rebirths amongst men and heavenly beings, he will put an end to suffering."
ádínavánupassaná-ñána: 'knowledge consisting in contemplation of misery', is one of the 8 kinds of insight (vipassaná) that form the 'purification of the knowledge and vision of the path-progress (s. visuddhi, VI. 4). It is further one of the 18 chief kinds of insight (s. vipassaná).
adosa: 'hatelessness, is one of the 3 wholesome roots (múla, q.v.).
adukkha-m-asukhá vedaná: 'feeling which is neither painful nor joyful', i.e. indifferent feeling; s. khandha, vedaná.
advertence (of mind to the object): ávajjana, is one of the functions of consciousness (viññána-kicca, q.v.). Cf. manasikára.
aeon: kappa (q.v.).
agati: the 4 'wrong paths' are: the path of greed (chanda), of hate, of delusion, of cowardice (bhaya). "One who is freed from evil impulses is no longer liable to take the wrong path of greed, etc.'' (A. IV, 17; IX, 7).
age, Old: jará (q.v.).
aggregates: khandha (q.v.).
agility: lahutá (q.v.).
áhára: 'nutriment', 'food', is used in the concrete sense as material food and as such it belongs to derived corporeality (s. khandha, Summary I.) In the figurative sense, as 'foundation' or condition, it is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.) and is used to denote 4 kinds of nutriment, which are material and mental: 1. material food (kabalinkáráhára), 2. (sensorial and mental) impression (phassa), 3. mental volition (mano-sañcetaná), 4. consciousness (viññána).
1. Material food feeds the eightfold corporeality having nutrient essence as its 8th factor (i.e. the solid, liquid, heat, motion, color, odour, the tastable and nutrient essence; s. rúpa-kalápa). 2. Sensorial and mental impression is a condition for the 3 kinds of feeling (agreeable, disagreeable and indifferent); s. paticcasamuppáda (6). 3. Mental volition (= karma, q.v.) feeds rebirth; s. paticca-samuppáda (2). 4. Consciousness feeds mind and corporeality ;náma-rúpa; ib., 2) at the moment of conception" (Vis.M. XI).
Literature (on the 4 Nutriments): M. 9 & Com. (tr. in 'R. Und.'), M 38; S. XII, 11, 63, 64 - The Four Nutriments of Life, Selected texts & Com. (WHEEL 105/106).
áhára-ja (or-samutthána) - rúpa: 'Food-produced corporeality'; s. samutthána.
áháre patikkúla-saññá: 'reflection on the loathsomeness of food', fully described in Vis.M. XI, l.
ahetuka-citta: s. hetu.
ahetuka-ditthi: 'view of uncausedness' (of existence); s. ditthi.
ahetu-patisandhika: s. patisandhi.
ahimsá: s. avihimsá.
ahirika-anottappa: 'lack of moral shame and dread', are two of the 4 unwholesome factors associated with all karmically unwholesome states of consciousness, the two others being restlessness (uddhacca) and delusion (moha). Cf. Tab. II.
"There are two sinister things, namely, lack of moral shame and dread, etc." (A. II, 6). "Not to be ashamed of what one should be ashamed of; not to be ashamed of evil, unwholesome things: this is called lack of moral shame" (Pug. 59). "Not to dread what one should dread ... this is called lack of moral dread (Pug. 60).
ahosi-kamma: 'ineffective karma'; s. karma.
ájíva: 'livelihood'. About right and wrong livelihood., s. sacca (IV. 5) and micchá-magga (5).
ájíva-párisuddhi-síla: 'morality consisting in purification of livelihood', is one of the 4 kinds of perfect morality; s. síla.
akanittha: the 'Great Ones', i.e. 'Highest Gods', are the inhabitants of the 5th and highest heaven of the Pure Abodes (suddhávása, q.v.); cf. avacara, deva (II) Anágámí.
ákása: 'space', is, according to Com., of two kinds: 1. limited space (paricchinnákása or paricchedákása), 2. endless space (anantákása), i.e. cosmic space.
1. Limited space, under the name of ákása-dhátu (space element), belongs to derived corporeality (s. khandha, Summary I; Dhs 638) and to a sixfold classification of elements (s. dhátu; M 112, 115, 140). It is also an object of kasina (q.v.) meditation. It is defined as follows: "The space element has the characteristic of delimiting matter. Its function is to indicate the boundaries of matter. It is manifested as the confines of matter; or its manifestation consists in being untouched (by the 4 great elements), and in holes and apertures. Its proximate cause is the matter delimited. It is on account of the space element that one can say of material things delimited that 'this is above. below, around that' " (Vis.M. XIV, 63).
2. Endless space is called in Atthasálini ajatákása, 'unentangled', i.e. unobstructed or empty space. It is the object of the first immaterial absorption (s. jhána), the sphere of boundless space (ákásánañcáyatana). According to Abhidhamma philosophy, endless space has no objective reality (being purely conceptual), which is indicated by the fact that it is not included in the triad of the wholesome (kusalatika), which comprises the entire reality. Later Buddhist schools have regarded it as one of several unconditioned or uncreated states (asankhata dharma) - a view that is rejected in Kath. (s. Guide. p. 70). Theraváda Buddhism recognizes only Nibbána as an unconditioned element (asankhata-dhátu: s. Dhs. 1084).
ákása dhátu: 'space element'; see above and dhátu.
ákása-kasina 'space-kasina exercise'; s. kasina.
ákásánañcáyatana: 'sphere of boundless space', is identical with the 1st absorption in the immaterial sphere; s. jhána (6).
ákiñcañña-ceto-vimutti: s. ceto-vimutti.
ákiñcaññáyatana: s. jhána (7).
akiriya-ditthi: view of the inefficacy of action'; s. ditthi.
akuppá-ceto-vimutti: cf. ceto-vimutti.
akuppa-dhamma: 'unshakable', is one who has attained full mastery over the absorptions (jhána, q.v.). In Pug. 4 it is said:
'What person is unshakable? If a person gains the meditative attainments of the fine-material and immaterial sphere (rúpávacara-arúpávacara); and he gains them at his wish, without toil and exertion; and according to his wish, as regards place, object and duration, enters them or arises from them, then it is impossible that in such a person the attainments may become shaken through negligence. This person is unshakable."
akusala: 'unwholesome', are all those karmic volitions (kamma-cetaná; s. cetaná) and the consciousness and mental concomitants associated therewith, which are accompanied either by greed (lobha) or hate (dosa) or merely delusion (moha); and all these phenomena are causes of unfavourable karma-results and contain the seeds of unhappy destiny or rebirth. Cf. karma, paticca-samuppáda (1), Tab. II.
akusala-sádhárana-cetasika: 'general unwholesome mental factors associated with all unwholesome actions' (volitions), are four: (1) lack of moral shame (ahirika), (2) lack of moral dread (anottappa), (3) restlessness (uddhacca), (4) delusion (moha). For (1) and (2) s. ahirika-anottappa, for (3) s. nívarana, for (4) múla. (App.).
The corresponding term in the field of wholesome consciousness is sobhana- sádhárana-cetasika (s. sobhana).
akusala-vitakka: 'unwholesome thoughts' as defined under akusala (q.v.). In M. 20, five methods of overcoming them are given: by changing the object, thinking of the evil results, paying no attention, analyzing, suppressing.
Tr. in The Removal of Distracting Thoughts (WHEEL 21).
alcohol prohibition: s. surámeraya-majja-ppamádattháná etc.
alms, vow of going for; or to do so without omitting any house: s. dhutanga, 3, 4.
alms-bowl eater, the practice of the: s. dhutanga.
alms-giving: dána (q.v.).
alms-goer, the practice of the; s. dhutanga.
alobha: 'greedlessness', is one of the 3 karmically wholesome roots (múla, q.v.).
áloka-kasina: 'light-kasina-exercise'; s. kasina.
áloka-saññá: 'perception of light'. The recurring canonical passage reads: "Here the monk contemplates the perception of light. He fixes his-mind to the perception of the day; as at day-time so at night, and as at night, so in the day. In this way, with a mind clear and unclouded, he develops a stage of mind that is full of brightness." It is one of the methods of overcoming drowsiness, recommended by the Buddha to Mahá-Moggallána (A. VII, 58). According to D. 33, it is conducive to the development of 'knowledge and vision' (s. visuddhi), and it is said to be helpful to the attainment of the 'divine eye' (s. abhiññá).
altruistic joy: muditá, is one of the 4 sublime abodes (brahmavihára, q.v.).
amata (Sanskrit amrta; Ö mr to die; = Gr. ambrosia): 'Deathlessness' according to popular belief also the gods' drink conferring immortality, is a name for Nibbána (s. Nibbána), the final liberation from the wheel of rebirths, and therefore also from the ever-repeated deaths .
amoha: 'non-delusion', wisdom, is one of the 3 karmically wholesome roots (múla, q.v.).
anabhijjhá: 'freedom from covetousness', unselfishness; s. kammapatha (II. 8).
anabhirati-saññá: s. sabba-loke anabhirati-s.
Anágámí: the 'Non-Returner', is a noble disciple (ariya-puggala, q.v.) on the 3rd stage of holiness. There are 5 classes of Non-Returners, as it is said (e.g. Pug. 42-46):
"A being, through the disappearing of the 5 lower fetters (samyojana, q.v.), reappears in a higher world (amongst the devas of the Pure Abodes, suddhávása, q.v.), and without returning from that world (into the sensuous sphere) he there reaches Nibbána.
(1) "He may, immediately after appearing there (in the Pure Abodes) or without having gone beyond half of the life-time, attain the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbána within the first half of the life' (antará-parinibbáyí).
(2) "Or, whilst living beyond half of the lifetime, or at the moment of death, he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbána after crossing half the life-time' (upahacca-parinibbáyí).
(3) "Or, with exertion he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbána with exertion' (sasankhára-parinibbáyí).
(4) "Or, without exertion he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches Nibbána without exertion' (asankhára-parinibbáyí).
(5) "Or, after vanishing from the heaven of the Aviha-gods (s. suddhávása), he appears in the heaven of the unworried (atappa) gods. After vanishing from there he appears in the heaven of the clearly-visible (sudassa) gods, from there in the heaven of the clear-visioned (sudassí) gods, from there in the heaven of the highest (akanittha) gods. There he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is called 'one who passes up-stream to the highest gods' (uddhamsota-akanittha-gámí)."
analysis of the 4 elements: dhátu-vavatthána (q.v.).
analytical doctrine: vibhajja-váda (q.v.).
analytical knowledge, the 4 kinds of: patisambhidá (q.v.).
anaññátañ-ñassámít'indriya: is one of the 3 supermundane senses or faculties; s. indriya (20).
anantara-paccaya: 'proximity', is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.).
ánantarika-kamma: the 5 heinous 'actions with immediate destiny' are: parricide, matricide, killing an Arahat (Saint), wounding a Buddha, creating schism in the monks' Order. In A.V., 129 it is said:
"There are 5 irascible and incurable men destined to the lower world and to hell, namely: the parricide," etc. About the 5th see A. X., 35, 38. With regard to the first crime, it is said in D. 2 that if King Ajátasattu had not deprived his father of life, he would have reached entrance into the path of Stream-entry (App.).
ánantariya: the 'Immediacy', is a name for that concentration of mind which is associated with such insight (vipassaná, q.v.) as is present in any one of the 4 kinds of supermundane path consciousness (s. ariya-puggala), and which therefore is the cause of the immediately following consciousness as its result or 'fruition' (phala, q.v.). According to the Abhidhamma, the path (of the Sotápanna, etc.) is generated by the insight into the impermanence, misery and impersonality of existence, flashing up at that very moment and transforming and ennobling one's nature forever.
It is mentioned under the name of ánantarika-samádhi in the Ratana Sutta (Sn. v. 22) and in Pts.M. 1, Ñánakathá.
ánápána-sati: 'mindfulness on in-and-out-breathing', is one of the most important exercises for reaching mental concentration and the 4 absorptions (jhána, q.v.).
In the Satipatthána Sutta (M. 10, D. 22) and elsewhere, 4 methods of practice are given, which may also serve as basis for insight meditation. The 'Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing' (Ánápánasati Sutta, M. 118) and other texts have 16 methods of practice, which divide into 4 groups of four. The first three apply to both tranquillity (samatha, q.v.) and insight-meditation, while the fourth refers to pure insight practice only. The second and the third group require the attainment of the absorptions.
"With attentive mind he breathes in, with attentive mind he breathes out.
I. (1) "When making a long inhalation he knows: 'I make a long inhalation'; when making a long exhalation he knows: 'I make a long exhalation.'
(2) "When making a short inhalation he knows: 'I make a short inhalation'; when making a short exhalation he knows: 'I make a short exhalation.'
(3) " 'Clearly perceiving the entire (breath-) body I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'clearly perceiving the entire (breath-) body I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(4) " 'Calming this bodily function I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'calming this bodily function I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
II. (5) " 'Feeling rapture (píti) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'feeling rapture I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(6) " 'Feeling joy I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'feeling joy I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(7) " 'Feeling the mental formation (citta-sankhára) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself, 'feeling the mental formation I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(8) " 'Calming the mental formation I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'calming the mental formation I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
III. (9) " 'Clearly perceiving the mind (citta) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'clearly perceiving the mind I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(10) " 'Gladdening the mind I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'gladdening the mind I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(11) " 'Concentrating the mind I will breathe in, thus he trains himself; 'concentrating the mind I will breathe out', thus he trains himself.
(12) " 'Freeing the mind I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'freeing the mind I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself
IV. (13) " 'Reflecting on impermanence (anicca) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on impermanence I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(14) " 'Reflecting on detachment (virága) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on detachment I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(15) " 'Reflecting on extinction (nirodha) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on extinction I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(16) " 'Reflecting on abandonment (patinissagga) I will breathe in, thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on abandonment I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself."
In M 118 it is further shown how these 16 exercises bring about the 4 foundations of mindfulness (satipatthána, q.v.), namely: 1-4 contemplation of the body, 5-8 contemplation of feeling, 9-12 contemplation of mind (consciousness), 13-16 contemplation of mind-objects. Then it is shown how these 4 foundations of mindfulness bring about the 7 factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.); then these again deliverance of mind (ceto-vimutti, q.v.) and deliverance through wisdom (paññá-vimutti, q.v.).
Literature: Ánápánasati Samyutta (S. LIV). - Pts.M. Ánápánakathá - Full explanation of practice in Vis.M. VIII, 145ff. - For a comprehensive anthology of canonical and commentarial texts, see Mindfulness of Breathing, Ñánamoli Thera (Kandy: BPS, 1964).
anattá: 'not-self', non-ego, egolessness, impersonality, is the last of the three characteristics of existence (ti-lakkhana, q.v.) The anattá doctrine teaches that neither within the bodily and mental phenomena of existence, nor outside of them, can be found anything that in the ultimate sense could be regarded as a self-existing real ego-entity, soul or any other abiding substance. This is the central doctrine of Buddhism, without understanding which a real knowledge of Buddhism is altogether impossible. It is the only really specific Buddhist doctrine, with which the entire Structure of the Buddhist teaching stands or falls. All the remaining Buddhist doctrines may, more or less, be found in other philosophic systems and religions, but the anattá-doctrine has been clearly and unreservedly taught only by the Buddha, wherefore the Buddha is known as the anattá-vádi, or 'Teacher of Impersonality'. Whosoever has not penetrated this impersonality of all existence, and does not comprehend that in reality there exists only this continually self-consuming process of arising and passing bodily and mental phenomena, and that there is no separate ego-entity within or without this process, he will not be able to understand Buddhism, i.e. the teaching of the 4 Noble Truths (sacca, q.v.), in the right light. He will think that it is his ego, his personality, that experiences suffering, his personality that performs good and evil actions and will be reborn according to these actions, his personality that will enter into Nibbána, his personality that walks on the Eightfold Path. Thus it is said in Vis.M. XVI:
"Mere suffering exists, no sufferer is found;
The deeds are, but no doer of the deeds is there;
Nibbána is, but not the man that enters it;
The path is, but no traveler on it is seen."
"Whosoever is not clear with regard to the conditionally arisen phenomena, and does not comprehend that all the actions are conditioned through ignorance, etc., he thinks that it is an ego that understands or does not understand, that acts or causes to act, that comes to existence at rebirth .... that has the sense-impression, that feels, desires, becomes attached, continues and at rebirth again enters a new existence" (Vis.M. XVII, 117).
While in the case of the first two characteristics it is stated that all formations (sabbe sankhárá) are impermanent and subject to suffering, the corresponding text for the third characteristic states that "all things are not-self" (sabbe dhammá anattá; M. 35, Dhp. 279). This is for emphasizing that the false view of an abiding self or substance is neither applicable to any 'formation' or conditioned phenomenon, nor to Nibbána, the Unconditioned Element (asankhatá dhátu).
The Anattá-lakkhana Sutta, the 'Discourse on the Characteristic of Not-self', was the second discourse after Enlightenment, preached by the Buddha to his first five disciples, who after hearing it attained to perfect Holiness (arahatta).
The contemplation of not-self (anattánupassaná) leads to the emptiness liberation (suññatá-vimokkha, s. vimokkha). Herein the faculty of wisdom (paññindriya) is outstanding, and one who attains in that way the path of Stream-entry is called a Dhamma-devotee (dhammánusári; s. ariya-puggala); at the next two stages of sainthood he becomes a vision-attainer (ditthippatta); and at the highest stage, i.e. Holiness, he is called 'liberated by wisdom' (paññá-vimutta).
For further details, see paramattha-sacca, paticca-samuppáda, khandha, ti-lakkhana, náma-rúpa, patisandhi.
Literature: Anattá-lakkhana Sutta, Vinaya I, 13-14; S. XXII, 59; tr. in Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha (WHEEL 17). - Another important text on Anattá is the Discourse on the Snake Simile (Alagaddúpama Sutta, M. 22; tr. in WHEEL 48/49) . Other texts in "Path". - Further: Anattá and Nibbána, by Nyanaponika Thera (WHEEL 11); The Truth of Anattá, by Dr. G. P. Malalasekera (WHEEL 94); The Three Basic Facts of Existence III: Egolessness (WHEEL 202/204)
anattánupassaná: 'contemplation of not-self' is one of the 18 chief kinds of insight (s. vipassaná). See also above.
anattá-saññá: 'perception of not-self'; see A. VI, 104; A. VII, 48; A.X, 60; Ud. IV, 1.
anattá-váda: the 'doctrine of impersonality'; s. anattá.
áneñja: 'imperturbability', denotes the immaterial sphere (arúpávacara; s. avacara); s. sankhára. cf. M. 106.
anger: s. múla.
anicca: 'impermanent' (or, as abstract noun, aniccatá, 'impermanence') is the first of the three characteristics of existence (tilakkhana, q.v.). It is from the fact of impermanence that, in most texts, the other two characteristics, suffering (dukkha) and not-self (anattá), are derived (S. XXII, 15; Ud. IV, I)
"Impermanence of things is the rising, passing and changing of things, or the disappearance of things that have become or arisen. The meaning is that these things never persist in the same way, but that they are vanishing dissolving from moment to moment" (Vis.M. VII, 3).
Impermanence is a basic feature of all conditioned phenomena, be they material or mental, coarse or subtle, one's own or external: All formations are impermanent" (sabbe sankhárá aniccá; M 35, Dhp. 277). That the totality of existence is impermanent is also often stated in terms of the five aggregates (khandha, q.v.), the twelve personal and external sense bases (áyatana q.v.), etc. Only Nibbána (q.v.), which is unconditioned and not a formation (asankhata), is permanent (nicca, dhuva).
The insight leading to the first stage of deliverance, Stream-entry (sotápatti; s. ariya-puggala), is often expressed in terms of impermanence: "Whatever is subject to origination, is subject to cessation" (s. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, S. XLVI, 11). In his last exhortation, before his Parinibbána, the Buddha reminded his monks of the impermanence of existence as a spur to earnest effort: "Behold now, Bhikkhus, I exhort you: Formations are bound to vanish. Strive earnestly!" (vayadhammá sankhárá, appamádena sampádetha; D. 16).
Without the deep insight into the impermanence and insubstantiality of all phenomena of existence there is no attainment of deliverance. Hence comprehension of impermanence gained by direct meditative experience heads two lists of insight knowledge: (a) contemplation of impermanence (aniccánupassaná) is the first of the 18 chief kinds of insight (q.v.); (b) the contemplation of arising and vanishing (udayabbayánupassaná-ñána) is the first of 9 kinds of knowledge which lead to the 'purification by knowledge and vision of the path-progress' (s. visuddhi, VI). - Contemplation of impermanence leads to the conditionless deliverance (animitta-vimokkha; s. vimokkha). As herein the faculty of confidence (saddhindriya) is outstanding, he who attains in that way the path of Stream-entry is called a faith-devotee (saddhánusárí; s. ariya-puggala) and at the seven higher stages he is called faith-liberated (saddhá-vimutta), - See also anicca-saññá.
See The Three Basic Facts of Existence I: Impermanence (WHEEL 186/187)
aniccánupassaná: 'contemplation of impermanence', is one of the 18 chief kinds of insight (s. vipassaná).
anicca-saññá: 'perception of impermanence', is defined in the Girimananda Sutta (A.X. 60) as meditation on the impermanence of the five groups of existence.
"Though, with a faithful heart, one takes refuge in the Buddha, his Teaching and the Community of Monks; or with a faithful heart observes the rules of morality, or develops a mind full of loving-kindness, far more meritorious it is if one cultivates the perception of impermanence, be it only for a moment" (A.X. 20).
See A. VI, 102; A. VII, 48; Ud. IV, 1; S. XXII, 102.