The Manual of Insight

Vipassanā Dīpanī
By

Ledi Sayādaw Mahāthera

Translated by

U Ñāṇa Mahāthera

Buddhist Publication Society

Kandy Sri Lanka

The Wheel Publication No: 031/032

Copyright © Kandy; Buddhist Publication Society, (1961, 1965, 1986, 2007)

BPS Online Edition © (2007)
Digital Transcription Source: BPS Transcription Project.
For free distribution. This work may be republished, reformatted, reprinted and redistributed in
any medium. However, any such republication and redistribution is to be made available to the
public on a free and unrestricted basis and translations and other derivative works are to be
clearly marked as such.
 Contents
Publisher’s Foreword to the Second BPS Edition.......................................................................4
Vipassanā Dīpanī................................................................................................................................5
The Exposition of Insight...............................................................................................................5
The Three Hallucinations..........................................................................................................5
The Simile of the Wild Deer......................................................................................................5
The Simile of the Magician........................................................................................................6
The Simile of the Man who has lost his Way..........................................................................6
The Three Fantasies (maññanā).................................................................................................7
The Two Dogmatic Beliefs (abhinivesa)....................................................................................8
The Two Stages (bhūmi).............................................................................................................8
The Two Destinations (gati).......................................................................................................9
Nakhasikha Sutta (The Sutta on the Fingernail)...................................................................10
Kāṇakacchapa Sutta (The Sutta on the Blind Turtle)...........................................................10
Explanation of the Two Destinations.....................................................................................11
The Two Truths (sacca).............................................................................................................12
Material Phenomena................................................................................................................13
Four Great Essentials (mahābhūta)..............................................................................................15
Derived Materiality (upādā-rūpa)................................................................................................15
The Six Bases (vatthu)...............................................................................................................15
The Two Sexes (bhāva)..............................................................................................................16
The Vital Force (jīvita-rūpa).....................................................................................................16
Material Nutrition (āhāra-rūpa)...............................................................................................16
The Four Sense Fields (gocara-rūpa)........................................................................................16
The Element of Space (ākāsa-dhātu).........................................................................................17
The Two Modes of Communications (viññatti-rūpa)............................................................17
The Three Plasticities (vikāra-rūpa).........................................................................................17
The Four Salient Features (lakkhaṇa-rūpa)..............................................................................18
The Four Producers of Material Phenomena........................................................................19
Mental Phenomena.......................................................................................................................19
Consciousness...........................................................................................................................20
Cetasikas or Mental Properties...............................................................................................21
The Common Properties..........................................................................................................22
The Particular Properties.........................................................................................................23
The Immoral Properties...........................................................................................................24
The Moral Properties................................................................................................................25
Nibbāna.....................................................................................................................................26
Causes I......................................................................................................................................26
Causes II....................................................................................................................................27
The Two Abhiññanas or Super-Knowledges........................................................................28
The Three Pariññās or Profound Knowledges......................................................................29
The Growth, Decay, and Death of the Material Aggregates...............................................31
The Growth, Decay, and Death of the Mental Phenomena.................................................32
The Exposition of Tīraṇa-pariññā ...............................................................................................33
The Mark of Impermanence in Matter...................................................................................33
The Mark of Impermanence in Mental Phenomena.............................................................34
The Mark of Ill..........................................................................................................................35
The Eleven Marks of Ill............................................................................................................36
The Mark of No-soul................................................................................................................37

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 How the Marks of Impermanence and Ill become Marks of No-soul................................38
The Three Knowledges pertaining to Insight of the Three Marks......................................40
The Exposition of Pahāna-pariññā...............................................................................................41
The Five Kinds of Dispelling...................................................................................................41
The Practice of Insight Meditation.............................................................................................43
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................44
A Life Sketch of the Venerable Ledi Sayādaw..........................................................................45

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 Publisher’s Foreword to the Second BPS Edition
The Venerable Ledi Sayādaw’s The Manual of Insight was first published in book form by The
Society for Promoting Buddhism in Foreign Countries, which was centred in Mandalay, Burma.
It was later serialised in the journal The Light of the Dhamma (Rangoon), Vols. I and II. The full
text appeared in a collection of Ledi Sayādaw’s treatises, The Manuals of Buddhism, (Rangoon:
Union of Burma Buddha Sāsana Council. 1965).
The first BPS edition of The Manual of Insight introduced a few minor changes in style and
terminology, and replaced a large number of the abundant Pali words by their English
equivalents. This second edition carries through the same editorial policy which guided the
work on the first edition. For the benefit of modern readers, the style has been simplified and
streamlined, archaic and quaint expressions replaced by more contemporary ones, and the
substitution of English for Pali executed more thoroughly. It is hoped that these revisions will
make this valuable and illuminating treatise easier reading, and a useful and practical guide in
achieving the purpose for which it was originally written: the development of meditative
insight.

4
 Vipassanā Dīpanī
The Exposition of Insight

The Three Hallucinations

Vipallāsa means hallucination, delusion, erroneous observation, 1 or taking that which is true as
false and that which is false as true.
There are three kinds of hallucination:
1. Saññā-vipallāsa: hallucination of perception
2. Citta-vipallāsa: hallucination of thought
3. Diṭṭhi-vipallāsa: hallucination of views
Of those three, hallucination of perception is fourfold. It erroneously perceives:
(i) Impermanence as permanence
(ii) Impurity as purity
(iii) Suffering as happiness
(iv) No-soul as soul
The same holds good with regard to the remaining two hallucinations, those of thinking and
views.
All these classifications come under the category of “This is mine! This is my self or living
soul!” and will be made clear later. The three hallucinations may be illustrated respectively by
the similes of the wild deer, the magician, and a man who has lost his way.

The Simile of the Wild Deer

This is the simile of the wild deer to illustrate the hallucination of perception.
In the middle of a great forest a certain husbandman cultivated a piece of paddy land. While
the cultivator was away, wild deer were in the habit of coming to the field and eating the young
sprouts of growing grain. So the cultivator put some straw together into the shape of a man and
set it up in the middle of the field in order to frighten the deer away. He tied the straw together
with fibres into the semblance of a body, with head, hands, and legs; and with white lime
painting on a pot the lineaments of a human face, he set it on the top of the body. He also
covered the artificial man with some old clothes such as a coat, and so forth, and put a bow and
arrow into his hands. Now the deer came as usual to eat the young paddy; but approaching it
and catching sight of the artificial man, they took it for a real one, were frightened, and ran
away.
In this illustration, the wild deer had seen men before and retained in their memory the
perception of the shape and form of men. In accordance with their present perception, they took

1
Another rendering, “illusion” may be proposed, which fits better for all three varieties, while
“hallucination” strictly refers only to erroneous sense perception.—Editor.

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the straw man for a real man. Thus their perception was an erroneous perception. The
hallucination of perception is as here shown in this allegory of the wild deer. It is very clear and
easy to understand.
This particular hallucination is also illustrated by the case of a bewildered man who has lost
his way and cannot make out the cardinal points, east and west, in the locality in which he is,
although the rising and setting of the sun may be distinctly perceived by anyone with open
eyes. If the error has once been made, it establishes itself very firmly, and can be removed only
with great difficulty. There are many things within ourselves which we always apprehend
erroneously and in a sense that is the reverse of the truth as regards impermanence and no-soul.
Thus through the hallucination of perception we apprehend things erroneously in exactly the
same way that the wild deer take the straw man to be a real man, even with their eyes wide
open.

The Simile of the Magician

This is the simile of the magician to illustrate the hallucination of thought.
There is a sham art called magic by means of which, when lumps of earth are exhibited in the
presence of a crowd, all who look at them think they are lumps of gold and silver. The power of
the magical art takes from men their ordinary power of seeing and in its place puts an
extraordinary kind of sight. It can thus for a time turn the mind upside down, so to speak. When
persons are in command of themselves they see lumps of earth as they are. But under the
influence of this magical art, they see the lumps of earth as lumps of gold and silver, with all
their qualities of brightness, yellowness, whiteness, and so forth. Thus, their beliefs,
observations, or ideas become erroneous. In the same way, our thoughts and ideas are in the
habit of wrongly taking false things as true, and thus we delude ourselves. For instance, at night
we are often deceived into thinking we see a man, when it is really the stump of a tree that we
are looking at. Or, on seeing a bush, we imagine we are looking at a wild elephant; or, seeing a
wild elephant, we take it to be a bush.
In this world all our mistaken ideas about things in our field of observation are due to the
action of the hallucination of thought, which is deeper and more unfathomable than that of
perception, since it deludes us by making false things seem true. However, as it is not so firmly
rooted as the latter, it can easily be removed by investigation or by searching into the causes and
conditions of things.

The Simile of the Man who has lost his Way

This is the simile of the man who has lost his way to illustrate the hallucination of views.
There was a large forest haunted by demons, who lived there, building towns and villages.
Some travellers who were not acquainted with the roads came through the forest. The demons
created their towns and villages as splendidly as those of the devas, or celestial beings, and
assumed the forms of male and female devas. They also made the roads as pleasant and
delightful as those of the devas. When the travellers saw these, they believed that these pleasant
roads would lead them to large towns and villages, and so, turning aside from the right roads,
they went astray following the wrong and misleading ones, arriving at the towns of the demons
and suffering accordingly.
In this allegory, the large forest stands for the three worlds—of sense existence, fine-material,
and immaterial existence. The travellers are all those who inhabit these worlds. The right road is

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right views; and the misleading road is wrong views. The right views here spoken of are of two
kinds, namely, those that pertain to the world, and those pertaining to enlightenment. Of these
two, the former connotes this right view: “All beings are the owners of their deeds; and every
deed, both moral and immoral, committed by oneself, is one’s own property and follows one
throughout the whole long course of life,” while the latter connotes the knowledge of the
doctrine of causal genesis, of the aggregates, of the sense bases, and no-soul. Of these two views,
the former is the right road to the round of existences. The worlds of the fortunate—the abodes
of human beings, devas, and Brahmas—are like the towns of good people. The erroneous views
that deny moral and immoral deeds and their results or effects are like the wrong, misleading
roads. The worlds of the unfortunate—the abodes of the tortured, of animals, petas, and asuras—
are like the towns of the demons.
The right view of knowledge, which is one of the factors of enlightenment, is like the right
road that leads out of the round of existence. Nibbāna is like the town of good people.
The views “my body” and “my soul” are also like the wrong and misleading roads. Viewed
in this light, the world comprising the abodes of human beings, devas, and Brahmas, or the
ceaseless renewing of existences, is like the towns of the demons.
The aforesaid erroneous views belong likewise to the hallucinations, and are deeper and more
firmly established than the hallucination of thought.

The Three Fantasies (maññanā)

Maññanā means fantasy, egotistic estimation, high imagination, or feigning to oneself that one is
what one is not. Through ignorance, hallucination arises, and through hallucination fantasy
arises.
Fantasy is of three kinds:
1. Taṇhā-maññanā: fantasy caused by craving
2. Māna-maññanā: fantasy caused by conceit
3. Diṭṭhi-maññanā: fantasy caused by wrong views
Of these, “fantasy caused by craving” means the high imagination: “This is mine! This is my
own!” in clinging to what in reality is not “mine” and “my own.” In strict truth, there is no “I”
and as there is no “I,” there can be no “mine” or “my own.” Both personal and impersonal
(external) objects are highly imagined and discriminated as, “This is mine; that other thing is not
mine”; and “This is my own; that other thing is not mine.” Such a state of imagination and
fanciful discrimination is called “fantasy caused by craving.”
“Personal objects” means one’s own body and organs. “Impersonal (external) objects” means
one’s own relations, such as father, mother, and so forth, and one’s own possessions.
“Fantasy caused by conceit” means high imagination of personal objects expressed as “I” or
“I am.” When it is supported or encouraged, so to speak, by personal attributes and impersonal
objects, it becomes aggressively haughty and fantastically conceited.
Here personal attributes means vigour of eyes, ears, hands, legs, virtue, intuition, knowledge,
possession of power, and so forth. Impersonal objects means plenitude of family, relations,
surroundings, dwellings, possessions, and so forth.
“Fantasy caused by wrong views” means over-estimation of personal objects as “my bodily
frame; my principle; my soul; the core, substance or essence of my being.” In the expressions

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“earthen pots” and “earthen bowls,” it is understood that earth is the substance of which these
pots and bowls are made, and the very earth so made, so shaped, is again called pots and bowls.
In the expressions “iron pots” and “iron bowls,” and so forth, it is also understood that iron is
the substance from which iron pots and bowls are made, and the very iron so made, so shaped,
is again called pots and bowls. In exactly the same way that in these instances earth or iron is
the substance from which the vessels are made, so the element of extension, the earth-element
which pertains to the personality, is assumed to be the substance of living beings; and of the “I”
this fanciful estimation of the facts of the case arises: “The element of extension is the living
being: the element of extension is the ‘I’.” What is here said in connection with the element of
extension is in like manner to be understood in connection with the element of cohesion, the
liquid element, and all other elements found in a corporeal existence. This over-estimation or
fantastic imagination will be expounded at greater length further on.
These three kinds of fantasy are also called the three gāha, or the three holds, to indicate their
power of holding tightly and firmly. Since they also multiply erroneous, mistaken actions,
which tend gradually but continuously to increase beyond all limits and never incline to cease,
they are also called the three papañcas or the three multipliers.

The Two Dogmatic Beliefs (abhinivesa)

Abhinivesa means dogmatic belief, a strong belief set in the mind as firmly and immovably as
doorposts, stone pillars, and monuments, so that it cannot be moved by any means or
expenditure of effort. It is of two different kinds: (1) taṇhābhinivesa: dogmatic belief induced by
craving; (2) diṭṭhābhinivesa: dogmatic belief induced by wrong views.
Of these, taṇhābhinivesa means the firm and unshakable belief in what is not “my own” body,
head, hands, legs, eyes, nose, and so forth, as being “my own” body, head and so forth,
throughout a long succession of existences, caused by attachment to the body.
Diṭṭhābhinivesa means the firm and unshakable belief in the existence of the soul or self or
separate life in a person or creature, which is held, in accordance with this belief, to be an
unchanging supreme thing that governs the body.
These two kinds of dogmatic belief are also called taṇhā-nissaya and diṭṭhi-nissaya respectively.
They may also be called the two great reposers upon the five aggregates, and on body-and-
mind; or the two great resting-places of puthujjanas, the ordinary men of the world.

The Two Stages (bhūmi)

Bhūmi (lit., soil, ground) means the stages where all creatures find their footing, generate, and
grow. It is of two kinds: (1) puthujjana-bhūmi: the stage of the worldling; (2) ariya-bhūmi: the
stage of the noble ones.
Puthujjana-bhūmi is the stage of the ordinary or normal being, the worldling (puthujjana);
speaking in the sense of ultimate truth, it is nothing but the hallucination of views. All creatures
of the ordinary worldly kind live in the world making this diṭṭhi-vipallāsa, or erroneous view,
their resting place, their main support, their standing ground: “There is in me or in my body
something that is permanent, pleasurable, and substantial.”
The diṭṭhi-maññanā or fantasy through error, the diṭṭhi-gāha or erroneous hold, the diṭṭhi-
papañca or multiplier of error, and the diṭṭhi-abhinivesa or strong belief induced by error, are also
the landing stages, the supports, the resting places, and the standing grounds of all puthujjanas.

8
Hence they will never be released from the state or existence of a puthujjana, so long as they
take their firm stand on the ground of the aforesaid many-named error.
As to the ariya-bhūmi, it is a state of an ariya, a noble and sanctified being, in whom
hallucination is eradicated. It is, speaking in the ultimate sense, nothing but this right view, this
right apprehension, the right understanding: “There is in me or in my body nothing permanent,
pleasurable, and substantial.” As an ariya lives making right view his main footing, this right
view may be called the stage of the ariya. Upon the attainment of this right view, a being is said
to have transcended the puthujjana-bhūmi, and to have set foot on the ariya-bhūmi.
Among the innumerable ordinary beings who have been treading the ground of the state of
being puthujjana during countless existences of unknown beginning, if a certain person trying
to eradicate the hallucination of error and to implant right view within himself, on a certain day
succeeds in his attempts, he is said to have set foot that self-same day upon the ground of the
ariya and to have become an ariya, that is, a sanctified being. Even if there should remain the
hallucinations of thought and perception in some of the ariyas, they would not commit such evil
deeds as would produce for them evil effects in the worlds of misfortune, for they have
eradicated the weighty hallucination of error. The two remaining hallucinations would merely
enable them to enjoy such worldly pleasures as they have lawfully earned.

The Two Destinations (gati)

Gati means literally “going,” that is, going from life to life by way of rebirth; in other words, the
change of existences, or the future destination of beings. It is of two kinds: (1) puthujjana-gati: the
destination of worldlings; (2) ariya-gati: the destination of sanctified beings.
The former signifies the taking rebirth of the ordinary person, the worldling, which is
dispersive (vinipātana). That is to say, he cannot be reborn into whatever kind of existence he
might wish, but is liable to fall into any of the thirty-one kinds of existence, according as he is
thrown by his past kamma. Just as, when a coconut, or any other fruit, falls from a tree, it cannot
be ascertained beforehand where it will come to rest; so also when a worldling is reborn after his
death, it cannot be known beforehand where he will be reborn. Every creature that comes into
life inevitably has to face the evil of death; and after his death he is also sure to fall by dispersion
into any type of existence. Thus the two great evils of death and dispersion are inseparably
linked to every being born.
Of these two, the dispersion of life after death is worse than death; for the four realms of
misery down to the Avīci hell stand wide open to a worldling who departs from the world of
men; they are open to him like unobstructed space. As soon as his term of life ends, he may fall
into any of the realms of woe. Whether far or near, there is no intervening period of time
between two existences. In the wink of an eyelid, he may be reborn as an animal, as a wretched
ghost (peta), as a titan or asūra, an enemy of Sakka, the king of gods. The same possibility holds
if he dies in any of the six upper realms of the sphere of sense existence (kāmāvacara-deva). But
when he expires from the fine-material (rūpa-loka), or immaterial worlds (arūpa-loka), there is no
direct fall into the four realms of misery; there is a halt of one existence either in the abode of
men or in those of devas, wherefrom he may fall into those four worlds of misery.
Why do we say that every being fears death? Because death is followed by dispersion to any
sphere of existence. If there were no dispersion as regards existence after death, and one could
take rebirth in any existence at one’s choice, no one would fear death so much, although, to be
sure, sometimes there may be thirst for death when a being, after living a considerable length of
time in one existence, desires to move to a new one.

9
 By way of showing how great is the dispersion of existence in the case of a worldling, the
similes of the fingernail (Nakhasikha Sutta) and of the blind turtle (Kāṇakacchapa Sutta) may be
cited from the discourses.

Nakhasikha Sutta (The Sutta on the Fingernail)

At one time the Buddha, showing them some dust which he had taken upon the tip of his
fingernail, addressed the disciples thus:
“If, O bhikkhus, these few grains of dust upon my fingernail and all the dust of the
universe were compared in quantity, which would you say was less, and which more?”
The disciples replied: “Lord, the dust on your fingernail is less, and that of the universe is
more. Surely, Lord, the dust on your fingernail is not worthy of mention in comparison
with the dust of the universe.” Then the Buddha continued: “Even so, bhikkhus, those who
are reborn in the abodes of men and devas when they have expired, are very few even as
the few grains of dust on my fingernail; and those who are reborn in the four realms of
misery are exceedingly many, even as the dust of the great universe. Again, those who
have expired from the four miserable worlds and are reborn in the abodes of men and
devas are few even as the grains of dust on my fingernail; and those who are repeatedly
reborn in the four miserable worlds are innumerable, even as the grains of dust of the great
universe.”
What has just been said is the substance of the Nakhasikha Sutta. But, to say nothing of the
beings of all the four realms of misery, the creatures that inhabit the four great oceans alone will
suffice to make evident how great is the evil of dispersion (vinipātana-gati), the variety of
possible kinds of existence after death.

Kāṇakacchapa Sutta (The Sutta on the Blind Turtle)

At one time the Buddha addressed the disciples thus:
“There is, O bhikkhus, in the ocean a blind turtle. He plunges into the water of the
unfathomable ocean and swims about incessantly in any direction wherever his head may
lead. There is also in the ocean the yoke of a cart which is ceaselessly floating about on the
surface of the water, and is carried away in all directions by tide, current, and wind. Thus
these two go on throughout an incalculable space of time. Perchance it happens that in the
course of time the yoke arrives at the precise place and time where and when the turtle
puts up his head, and yokes on to it. Now, O bhikkhus, is it possible that such a time might
come as is said?” “In ordinary truth, Lord,” replied the bhikkhus, “it is impossible; but time
being so vast, and an aeon lasting so long, it may be admitted that perhaps at some time or
other it might be possible for the two to yoke together, as said: if the blind tortoise lives
long enough, and the yoke does not rot and break up before such a coincidence comes to
pass.”
Then the Buddha said:
“Bhikkhus, the occurrence of such a strange thing is not to be counted a difficult one; for
there is a still greater, a harder, a hundred times, a thousand times more difficult thing than
this lying hidden from your knowledge. And what is this? It is, bhikkhus, the obtaining of
a human existence again by a man who has expired and been reborn once in any of the four
realms of misery. The occurrence of the yoking of the blind tortoise is not worth thinking of
as a difficult occurrence in comparison therewith. Because only those who perform good

10
 deeds and abstain from bad actions can obtain the existence of men and devas. The beings
in the four miserable worlds cannot discern what is virtuous and what vicious, what good
and what bad, what moral and what immoral, what meritorious and what demeritorious;
consequently, they live a life of immorality and demerit, tormenting one another with all
their power. Those creatures of the hells and the ghost world in particular live a very
miserable life on account of punishments and torments which they experience with sorrow,
pain and distress. Therefore, O bhikkhus, the opportunity of being reborn in the abode of
men is a hundred times, a thousand times harder to obtain than the encountering of the
blind turtle with the yoke.”
According to this sutta, why those creatures who are born in the miserable planes are far from
human existence is because they never look up but always look down. And what is meant by
looking down? The ignorance in them by degrees becomes greater and stronger from one
existence to another; and as the water of a river always flows down to the lower plains, so also
they are always tending towards the lower existences; for the ways towards the higher
existences are closed to them, while those towards the lower existences are freely open. This is
the meaning of “looking down.” Hence, from this story of the blind turtle, the wise apprehend
how great, how fearful, how terribly perilous are the evils of the worldling’s destination, i.e., the
“dispersion of existence.”
What has been said concerns the puthujjana-gati. Now, what is the ariya-gati, the destination of
sanctified beings? It is deliverance from the dispersion of existence after death. It is also the
potentiality of being reborn in higher existences or in existences according to one’s choice. It is
not like the fall of coconuts from trees, but is to be compared to birds which fly through the air
to whatsoever place or tree they may wish to perch on. Those men, devas, and Brahmas who
have attained the ariya state, can go to whatever better existence—as men, devas, Brahmas—
they may wish to be reborn into, when they expire from the particular existence in which they
have attained such ariya state. Though they expire unexpectedly without aiming to be reborn in
a particular existence, they are destined to be reborn in a better or higher existence, and at the
same time are entirely free from rebirth into lower and miserable existences. Moreover, if they
are reborn again in the abode of men, they never become of the lower or poorer classes, nor are
they fools or heretics, but become quite otherwise. It is the same in the abodes of devas and
Brahmas. They are entirely set free from the puthujjana-gati.
What has been said concerns the destination of ariyas.

Explanation of the Two Destinations

Now we will explain the two destinations side by side.
When a man falls from a tree, he falls like a coconut because he has no wings with which to
fly in the air. In precisely the same way, when men, devas, and Brahmas who are worldlings
riveted to the hallucination of wrong views and not having the wings of the Noble Eightfold
Path to make the sky their resting-place, are reborn after the dissolution of their present bodies
into new ones. They fall tumbling into the bonds of the evils of dispersion. In this world
ordinary men who climb up very high trees fall tumbling to the ground when the branches
which they clutch, or try to make their resting-place, break. They suffer much pain from the fall,
and sometimes death ensues because they have no other resting-places but the branches, neither
have they wings to fly in the air. It is the same with men, devas, and Brahmas who have the
hallucination of wrong views: when their resting-place of wrong views as regards self breaks
down, they fall tumbling into the dispersion of existence. For their resting-places are only their

11
bodies; and they have neither such a resting-place as Nibbāna nor strong wings like the Noble
Eightfold Path to support them.
As for the birds, though the branches they rest on may break, they never fall, but easily fly
through the air to any other tree. For the branches are not their permanent resting-places but
only temporary ones. They entirely rely on their wings and the air. In the same way, men,
devas, and Brahmas who have become ariyas and are freed from the hallucination of wrong
views, neither regard their bodies as their self, nor rely upon them. They have in their
possession permanent resting-places, such as Nibbāna, which is the entire cessation of all
tumbling existences. They also possess the very mighty wings of the Noble Eightfold Path
which are able to bear them to better existences.

The Two Truths (sacca)

Sacca or truth is the constant faithfulness or concordance of the term which names a thing, to or
with that thing’s intrinsic nature. It is of two kinds:
1. sammuti-sacca: conventional or relative truth;
2. paramattha-sacca: or ultimate truth.
Of the two, conventional truth is the truthfulness of the customary terms used by the great
majority of people, such as “self exists,” “men exist,” ”devas exist,” “Sakkas exist,” “elephants
exist,” “my head exists,” and so on. This conventional truth is the opposite of untruth, and so on
can overcome it. It is not a lie or lack of truthfulness when people say: “There probably exists an
immutable, permanent, and continuing self or living soul which is neither momentarily rising
nor passing away throughout one existence,” for this is the customary manner of speech of the
great majority of people who have no intention whatever of deceiving others. But according to
ultimate truth, it is reckoned a vipallāsa or hallucination, which erroneously regards the
impermanent as permanent and non-self as self. So long as this erroneous view remains
undestroyed, one can never escape from the evils of saṃsāra, the wheel of life. All this holds
good when people say “a person exists,” and so on.
Ultimate truth is the absolute truthfulness of assertion or negation in full and complete
accordance with what is actual: the elementary, fundamental qualities of phenomena. Here
stating such truth in affirmative form, one may say: “The element of solidity exists,” “the
element of extension exists,” “the element of cohesion exists,” “the element of kinetic energy
exists,” ”mind exists,” “consciousness exists,” “contact, feeling, and perception exist,” “material
aggregates exist,” and so on. And expressing such truth in a negative form, it can be said: “No
self exists,” “no living soul exists,” “no person exists,” “no being exists,” “nor do hands, nor any
members of the body exist,” “neither does a man exist nor a deva,” and so on. In saying here:
“No self exists,” “no living soul exists,” we mean that there is no such ultimate entity as a self or
living soul which persists unchanged during the whole term of life, without momentarily
coming to be and passing away. In the expressions “No being exists,” and so forth, what is
meant is that nothing actually exists but material and mental elements. These elements are
neither persons nor beings, nor men, nor devas, etc. Therefore there is no separate being or
person apart from the elements. This ultimate truth is the diametrical opposite of the
hallucination, and so can confute it. One who is thus able to confute or reject the hallucination
can escape from the evils of saṃsāra.
According to conventional truth, a person exists, a being exists; a person or a being
continually transmigrates from one existence to another in the ocean of life. But according to
ultimate truth, neither a person nor a being exists and there is no one who transmigrates from

12
one existence to another. Here it may be asked: “Do not these two truths seem to be as poles
asunder?” Of course they seem to be so. Nevertheless, we may bring them together. Have we
not said: “according to conventional truth” and “according to ultimate truth”? Each kind of
truth accordingly is truthful as regards its own mode of expression. Hence, if one man should
say that there exists a person or a being according to conventional truth, the other to whom he
speaks ought not to contradict him, for these conventional terms describe what apparently
exists. And likewise, if the other says that there exists neither a person nor a being according to
ultimate truth, the former ought not to deny this, for, in the ultimate sense, material and mental
phenomena alone truly exist, and in strict reality they know no person or being.
For example: men dig up lumps of earth from certain places, pound them into dust, knead
this dust with water into clay, and from this clay make various kinds of useful pots, jars, and
cups. Thus there exist various kinds of pots, jars and cups in the world.
Now, when discussion takes place on this subject, if it were asked: “Are there earthen pots
and cups in this world?” the answer according to the conventional truth should be given in the
affirmative, and according to the ultimate truth in the negative, since this kind of truth admits
only the positive existence of the earth out of which the pots and so forth were made. Of these
two answers the former requires no explanation inasmuch as it is an answer according to the
established usage, but as regards the latter, some explanation is needed. In the objects that we
called “earthen pots,” and “earthen cups,” what really exists is only earth not pots or cups in the
sense of ultimate truth, for the term “earth” applies properly not to pots and cups but to actual
substantial earth. There are also pots and cups made of iron, brass, silver, and gold. These
cannot be called earthen pots and cups, since they are not made of earth. The terms “pots” and
“cups” also are not terms descriptive of earth but of ideas derived from the appearance of pots
and cups, such as their circular or spherical shape and so on. This is obvious, because the terms
“pots” and “cups” are not applied to the mere lumps of earth which have no shape or form of
pots and cups. Hence it follows that the term “earth” is not a term descriptive of pots and cups,
but of real earth; and also the terms “pots” and “cups” are not terms descriptive of earth but of
pictorial ideas (saṇṭhāna-paññatti) which have no elementary substance other than the dust of
clay, being mere conceptions presented to the mind by the particular appearance, form, and
shape of the worked-up clay. Hence the negative statement according to the ultimate truth,
namely, that “no earthen pots and cups exist,” ought to be accepted without question.

Material Phenomena
Now we come to the analysis of things in the ultimate sense. Of the two kinds of ultimate
phenomena, material and mental, as mentioned above, the former is of twenty-eight kinds:
(I) The four great essential elements:
1. Element of solidity (paṭhavī)
2. Element of cohesion, or binding, the fluid (āpo)
3. Element of heat, including warmth and cold (tejo)
4. Element of motion or vibration (vāyo)
(II) The six bases:
5. Eye-base
6. Ear-base
7. Nose-base

13
 8. Tongue-base
9. Body-base
10. Heart-base
(III) The two sexes:
11. Male sex
12. Female sex
(IV) One species of physical life:
13. Vital force
(V) One species of material nutrition:
14. Edible food
(VI) The four sense fields:
15. Visible form
16. Sound
17. Odour
18. Savour
These last eighteen species are called genetic material qualities (jāta-rūpāni), as they possess the
power of production.
(VII) One species of physical limitation:
19. Element of space
(VIII) The two communications:
20. Intimation through the body
21. Intimation through speech
(IX) The three plasticities:
22. Lightness
23. Pliancy
24. Adaptability
(X) The four salient features:
25. Integration
26. Continuance
27. Decay
28. Impermanence or death
These last ten species are called non-genetic material qualities (ajāta-rūpāni) as they do not
possess the power of production.

14
 Four Great Essentials (mahābhūta)
Mahābhūta means to develop greatly.
1. The element of extension is the element of earth, that is, the fundamental principle or
foundation of matter. It exists in gradations of many kinds, such as hardness, more
hardness, stiffness, more stiffness, softness, more softness, pliability, more pliability, and so
on.
2. The element of cohesion is the element of water, that is, the cohesive power of material
qualities whereby they form into a mass or bulk or a lump. There are apparently many
kinds of cohesion.
3. The element of heat is the element of fire, that is, the power to burn, to inflame, and to
mature the material qualities. This maturative quality is of two kinds, namely, the
maturative quality of heat and the maturative quality of cold.
4. The element of motion is the element of wind or air, that is, the power of supporting or
resisting. It is of many kinds, such as supportive, resistive, conveying, vibratory, diffusive,
and so on.
From these four great elements all other forms of matter are born. Or, expressed in another way:
All matter is a combination, in one proportion or another, of these four elementary properties,
together with a varying number of secondary material phenomena derived from the great
elements.

Derived Materiality (upādā-rūpa)

The Six Bases (vatthu)

A base, vatthu, is that where consciousness is generated, arises, develops, or that whereupon it
depends.
1. The eye-base is the sensorium within the eyeball where consciousness of sight is
generated: consciousness of sight connotes the power of seeing various kinds of colours,
appearances, forms and shapes.
2. The ear-base is the sensorium within the organ of the ear where consciousness of sound
is generated; and the consciousness of sound connotes the power of hearing various kinds
of sound.
3. The nose-base is the sensorium within the nose organ where consciousness of smell is
generated; and the consciousness of smell connotes the power of smelling different kinds of
odours.
4. The tongue-base is the sensorium upon the surface of the tongue where consciousness of
taste is generated; the consciousness of taste connotes the power of tasting many kinds of
taste such as sweet, sour, and so forth.
5. The body-base is the sensorium locating itself by pervading the whole body within and
without from head to foot, where consciousness of touch is generated; the consciousness of
touch connotes the power of feeling or sensing physical contacts.

15
 6. The heart-base (hadaya-vatthu) is a kind of very fine, bright, subtle matter within the
organ of heart where mind consciousness, comprising sixty-nine classes of the same in
number is generated.
From these six bases all classes of consciousness are generated and arise.

The Two Sexes (bhāva)

Bhāva means production or productive principle.
1. The itthi-bhāva, the female sex, is a certain productive principle of matter which produces
several different kinds of female features or feminine characteristics.
2. The puṃ-bhāva, the male sex, is a certain productive principle of matter which produces
several different kinds of male features or appearances and masculine characteristics.
The two sexes respectively locate themselves in the bodies of male and female, like the body-
base they pervade the entire frame from the sole of the foot to the top of the head within and
without. Owing to their predominant features the distinction between femininity and
masculinity and femininity is readily discerned.

The Vital Force (jīvita-rūpa)

Jīvita means life, that is, the vital force which controls the material qualities produced by
kamma, and keeps them fresh in the same way that the water of a pond preserves the lotus
plants from decay. It so informs them as to prevent them from withering. The common
expressions of ordinary speech, “a being lives” or “a being dies,” are descriptive merely of the
presence or absence of this material quality of life. When it ceases forever with reference to a
particular form, we say “a being dies,” and we say “a being lives” so long as it continues to act
in any particular form. This also permeates the whole body.

Material Nutrition (āhāra-rūpa)

Āhāra-rūpa means the element of essential nutriment that nourishes or promotes the growth of
material qualities. Just as the element of water that resides in earth or falls from the sky
nourishes trees or plants, or mainly promotes their growth and helps them to fecundate,
develop and last long, so also this material quality of nutrition nourishes the four kinds of
matter produced by the four causes kamma, mind, temperature, and food,—and helps them to
fecundate and grow. It is the main supporter of the material quality of life, so that undertaking
various kinds of work in the world for the sake of getting one’s daily food is called a man’s
living or livelihood.

The Four Sense Fields (gocara-rūpa)

Gocara means sense field or object of the five senses.
1. The object “visible form” is the quality of colour and shape of various objects.
2. The object “sound” is the quality of sound itself.
3. The object “odour” is the quality of scent or smell.

16
 4. The object “savour” is the quality of savour or taste.
Mention is not made here of touch, the tangible object, as it consists of three of the great
elements, namely, tangible extension, tangible temperature, and tangible movement. Counting
the tangible also, we thus get five sense fields in all. Of these, visible form is the object of eye;
sound, of ear; odour, of nose; savour, of tongue; and the tangible, of body.

The Element of Space (ākāsa-dhātu)

Ākāsa-dhātu means the element of space. In a heap of sand there is space between each particle of
sand. Hence we may say that there are as many spaces as there are particles of sand in the heap;
and we can also distinguish the particles of sand from one another. When the heap is destroyed,
the particles of sand are scattered about, and the space enclosed between them disappears also.
Similarly, in very hard lumps of stone, marble, iron, and other metals, there are innumerable
atoms and particles of atoms, called kalāpas or groups. Even the finest, smallest particles of an
atom contain at least the following eight qualities of matter: the four essentials and colour,
odour, savour, and nutritive essence. And each group is separated by the element of space
located between them. Therefore there is at least as much space as there is matter in the lump. It
is owing to the existence of this space that lumps of stone and iron can be broken up, or cut into
pieces, or pounded into dust, or melted.

The Two Modes of Communications (viññatti-rūpa)

Viññatti-rūpa means mode of communication. It is a sign employed to communicate the
willingness, intention, or purpose, of one person to the understanding of another.
20. Kāya-viññatti is that peculiar movement of body by which one’s purpose is made known to
others.
21. Vacī-viññatti is that peculiar movement of sounds in speech by which one’s purpose is
made known to others.
Those who cannot see the minds of others know the purpose, the intention, the willingness of
others through the use of these two modes of communication. These two are employed not only
in communicating one’s purpose or intention to the understanding of another, but also in
moving the parts of the body while walking, and so forth, according to one’s will, as also in
learning by heart, reading to one-self, and so forth.

The Three Plasticities (vikāra-rūpa)

Vikāra means the peculiar expression or distinctive condition of the genetic material qualities
(jāta-rūpa).
22. Lahutā is the lightness of the material quality.
23. Mudutā is the pliancy of the material qualities.
24. Kammaññatā is the adaptability of the two media of communication.
When one of the Four Great Essentials falls out of order and becomes disproportionate to the
rest in any parts of the body, these parts are not light as usual in applying themselves to some
work, but tend to become heavy and awkward; they are not pliable as usual, but tend to become
hard, coarse, and rigid; they are not as adaptable as usual in their movements in accord with

17
one’s will, but tend to become difficult and strained. Likewise, when the essentials are out of
order the tongue and the lips, are not adaptable according to one’s wish in speaking, but
become firm and stiff. When the four great essentials are in good order and the parts of the body
are in sound health, the matter of the body (rūpa) is said to be in possession of these qualities,
lightness, pliancy, and adaptability, which are called the three plasticities (vikāra-rūpa).

The Four Salient Features (lakkhaṇa-rūpa)

Lakkhaṇa means the salient feature or mark by means of which it is decisively known that all
material and mental qualities are subject to impermanence.
25. Upacaya-rūpa means both integration and continuance of integration; the former may be
called ācaya (initial integration) and the latter upacaya (sequential integration).
26. Santati-rūpa means continuance. From the cessation of sequential integration to the
commencement of decay the phenomenon continues without any increase or decrease. And
such a continuous state of material phenomenon is called santati or pavatti (prolongation). The
production (jāti) of the groups of material qualities alone is described by the three names, ācaya,
upacaya, and santati.
27. Jaratā is the state of growing old, of decline, of maturity, ripeness (in the sense of being
ready to fall), decay, caducity, rottenness, or corruption.
28. Aniccatā means impermanence, death, termination, cessation, brokenness or the state of
disappearing.2
A plant has five periods, the ācaya period, the upacaya period, the santati period, the jaratā
period, and the aniccatā period. It is first generated; then it grows up gradually or develops day-
by-day; and after the cessation of growth it stands for sometime in the fully developed state.
After that it begins to decay, and at last it dies and disappears.
Here, the primary generation of the material qualities is called ācaya period; the gradual
growth or development, the upacaya period; and their fully developed state, the santati period.
However, during these three periods there are momentary decays (khaṇika-jaratā) and
momentary deaths (khaṇika-aniccatā), but they are inconspicuous. The declining of the plant is
called jaratā period. During the period of decline there are momentary births (khaṇika-jāti) and
momentary deaths (khaṇika-maraṇa), but they are also inconspicuous.3 The death of the plant and
the final disappearance of all its constituents are called the aniccatā period. During what we call
death there are also momentary births and decays but they are invisible. The five periods
allotted to what is apparent to the view are shown here only in order to help one to grasp the
idea of lakkhaṇa-rūpas.
In a similar manner we may divide, in the life of a fruit tree, the branches, the leaves, the
buds, the flowers, and the fruits into five periods each. A fruit can be divided into five periods
thus: the first period of appearance; the second period of growth or development; the third

2
It is our Ledi Sayādaw’s style in writing to express an idea by means of as many synonymous terms as
he can collect. A translator such as I, who has not fully attained the mastery of the English language, in
which the treasures of Burmese literature are to be deposited, meets difficulty with furnishing the
translation with a sufficient number of appropriate terms. —Translator
3
The commentator of the Dhammasaṅgaṇī, in his Atthasālinī, explains this by an illustration of a well dug
out on the bank of a river. The first gushing out of water in the well, he says, is like the ācaya of the
material phenomenon; the flushing up or the gradual increasing or the rising up of water to the full, is
like the upacaya; and the flooding is like the santati.—Tr.

18
period of standing; the fourth period of ripening and decaying; and the fifth period of falling
from the stem, total destruction, or final disappearance.
Just as we get five periods in the life of plants, so is it with all creatures, and also with all their
bodily parts; with their movements or bodily actions such as going, coming, standing, and
sitting; with their speech and with their thought. The beginning, the middle, and the end are all
to be found in the existence of every material thing.

The Four Producers of Material Phenomena

There are four producers (samuṭṭhāna) which produce material phenomena: (1) kamma, (2) citta,
(3) utu, (4) āhāra.
1. Kamma means moral and immoral actions committed in previous existences.
2. Citta means mind and mental concomitants existing in the present life.
3. Utu means the two states of tejo-dhātu, the fire-element; heat (uṇha-tejo) and cold (sīta-
tejo).
4. Āhara means the two kinds of nutritive essence: internal nutriment that obtains from the
time of conception, and external nutriment that exists in edible food.
Out of the twenty-eight species of material qualities, nine species—the six bases, two sexes, and
life are produced only by kamma. The two media of communications are produced only by citta.
Sound is produced by citta and utu. The three plasticities are produced by citta, utu, and āhāra.
Of the remaining thirteen, excluding jaratā (decay) and aniccatā (impermanence), the eleven—
comprising the four great essentials, nutriment, visible form, odour, savour, the element of
space, integration, and continuance—are produced by the four causes. These eleven always
appertain severally to the four classes of phenomena produced by the four causes. There are no
phenomena that enter into composition without these. Material phenomena enter into
composition with these, forming groups of eight, nine, and so forth, and each group is called
rūpa-kalāpa.
Two salient features, decay and impermanence, are excluded from the material qualities born
of the four causes as they disorganise what has been produced.

Mental Phenomena
There are fifty-four kinds of mental phenomena: citta: mind or consciousness; cetasika: mental
properties or concomitants, fifty-two in number; and nibbāna: liberation from the circle of
existences.4
Citta means the faculty of investigating an object (ārammaṇa); or of taking possession of an
object; or of knowing an object; or of being conscious of an object. Cetasikas are factors of
consciousness, or mental properties born of mind, or concomitants of mind. Nibbāna means
freedom from all suffering.

4
Nibbāna is here regarded as a mental phenomenon, not from the objective, but from the subjective point
of view.—Tr.

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 Consciousness
Consciousness is divided into six classes:
1. Consciousness of sight
2. Consciousness of sound
3. Consciousness of smell
4. Consciousness of taste
5. Consciousness of touch
6. Consciousness of mind
Of these:
1. The consciousness arising at the eye-base is called consciousness of sight, and has the
function of seeing.
2. The consciousness arising at the ear-base is called consciousness of sound, and has the
function of hearing.
3. The consciousness arising at the nose-base is called consciousness of smell, and has the
function of smelling.
4. The consciousness arising at the tongue-base is called consciousness of taste, and has the
function of tasting.
5. The consciousness arising at the body-base is called consciousness of touch, and has the
function of touching.
6. The consciousness arising at the heart-base is called consciousness of mind. In the
immaterial world (arūpa-loka), however, mind-consciousness arises without any physical
base.
Mind-consciousness is again subdivided into four kinds:
(a) Kāma-consciousness
(b) Rūpa-consciousness
(c) Arūpa-consciousness
(d) Lokuttara-consciousness
Of these:
(a) Kāma-consciousness is that which is under the dominance of desire prevailing in the
world of sense desire (kāma-loka). It is fourfold, thus: moral (kusala) immoral (akusala),
resultant (vipāka), and ineffective (i.e., kammically inoperative, kriyā).
(b) Rūpa-consciousness is the jhānic mind which has become free from sense-desire but still
remains under the dominance of the desire prevailing in the fine-material world. It is
threefold, thus: moral, resultant, and ineffective.
(c) Arūpa-consciousness is also the jhānic mind which has become free from desire for the
fine-material, but still remains under the dominance prevailing in the immaterial world. It
is also threefold, thus: moral, resultant, and ineffective.
(d) Lokuttara, or supramundane consciousness, is the noble mind (ariya-citta) which has
become free from the threefold desire, and has transcended the three planes, kāma, rūpa,

20
 and arūpa. It is of two kinds, thus: noble consciousness in the path (of stream-entry, etc.)
and noble consciousness in the fruition (of stream-entry, etc.).

Cetasikas or Mental Properties

Mental properties are of fifty-two kinds.
(a) The seven common properties (sabba-citta sādhāraṇa), so called on account of being common
to all classes of consciousness:
1. Phassa: contact
2. Vedanā: feeling
3. Saññā: perception
4. Cetanā: volition
5. Ekaggatā: concentration of mind
6. Jīvita: psychic life
7. Manasikāra: attention
(b) The six particulars (pakiṇṇaka), so called because they are features only of certain types of
consciousness:
8. Vitakka: initial application
9. Vicāra: sustained application
10. Viriya: effort
11. Pīti: pleasurable interest
12. Chanda: desire-to-do
13. Adhimokkha: decision
The above thirteen mental properties are called “mixers” 5 (vomissaka), meaning that they can
mix with both moral and immoral consciousness. Shwe Zan Aung calls them “un-moral
properties.”
(c) The fourteen immoral properties (akusala) are:
14. Lobha: greed
15. Dosa: hate
16. Moha: dullness
17. Diṭṭhi: error
18. Māna: conceit
19. Issā: envy
20. Macchariya: selfishness
21. Kukkucca: worry
22. Ahirika: shamelessness

5
Vomissaka literally means “mixed” or “miscellaneous”.—Ed.

21
 23. Anottappa: recklessness
24. Uddhacca: distraction
25. Thīna: sloth
26. Viddha: torpor
27. Vicikicchā: perplexity
(d) The twenty-five moral properties (sobhana) are:
28. Alobha: disinterestedness; lit.: non-greed
29. Adosa: amity; lit.: non-hate
30. Amoha: reason; lit.: non-delusion
31. Saddhā: faith
32. Sati: mindfulness
33. Hiri: modesty
34. Ottappa: discretion
35. Tatramajjhattatā: balance of mind
36. Kāyapassaddhi: composure of mental properties
37. Cittapassaddhi: composure of mind
38. Kāyalahutā: buoyancy of mental properties
39. Cittalahutā: buoyancy of mind
40. Kāyamudutā: pliancy of mental properties
41. Cittamudutā: pliancy of mind
42. Kāyakammaññatā: adaptability of mental properties
43. Cittakammaññatā: adaptability of mind
44. Kāyapaguññatā: proficiency of mental properties
45. Cittapaguññatā: proficiency of mind
46. Kāyujukatā: rectitude of mental properties
47. Cittujukatā: rectitude of mind
48. Sammā-vācā: right speech
49. Sammā-kammantā: right action
50. Sammā-ājīva: right livelihood
51. karuṇā: pity
52. muditā: appreciation.

The Common Properties

1. Phassa means contact, and contact means the faculty of pressing the object so as to cause the
agreeable or disagreeable “sap” to come out. So contact is the main principle or prime mover of

22
the mental properties in their uprising. If the sap cannot be squeezed out, then no object will be
of any use.
2. Vedanā means feeling, the faculty of tasting the sapid flavour thus squeezed out by phassa.
All creatures are sunk in feeling.
3. Saññā means perception, the act of perceiving. All creatures become wise through this
perception, if they perceive things with sufficient clarity in accordance with their own ways,
customs, creeds, and so forth.
4. Cetanā means volition, the faculty of determining the activities of the mental concomitants
so as to bring them into harmony. In the common speech of the world we are accustomed to say
of one who supervises a piece of work that he is the performer or author of the work. We
usually say: “Oh, this work was done by So-and-so” or “This is such and such a person’s great
work.” It is somewhat the same in connection with the ethical aspects of things. Volition is
called action (kamma), as it determines the activities of the mental concomitants and supervises
all the actions of body, speech, and mind. As all prosperity in this life is the outcome of the
exertions put forth in work performed with body, speech, and mind, so also the conditions of a
new existence are the results of the volitions 6 performed in previous existences. Earth, water,
mountains, trees, grass, and so forth, are all born of the element of temperature and they may be
quite properly be called the children or the issue of volition, or the element of kamma, as they
are all born through kamma.
5. Ekaggatā means concentration of mind. It is also called concentration (samādhi). It becomes
prominent in the jhāna-samāpatti the attainment of the supernormal modes of mind called jhāna.
6. Jīvita means the life of mental phenomena. It is pre-eminent in preserving the continuance
of mental phenomena.
7. Manasikāra means attention. Its function is to bring the desired object into view of
consciousness.
These seven factors are called common properties, as they always enter into the composition
of all consciousness.

The Particular Properties

8. Vitakka means initial application of mind. Its function is to direct the mind towards the object
of investigation. It is also called saṅkappa (aspiration), which is of two kinds: sammā-saṅkappa or
right aspiration, micchā-saṅkappa or wrong aspiration.
9. Vicāra means sustained application of mind. Its function is to keep the mind engaged in the
object (by considering, reflecting, etc.).
10. Viriya means energy, or effort of mind in actions. It is of two kinds, right effort and wrong
effort.
11. Pīti means pleasurable interest of mind, or buoyancy, or rapture of mind.
12. Chanda means desire-to-do, such as desire-to-go, desire-to-speak, and so forth.
13. Adhimokkha means decision, or literally, apartness of mind from the object; it is intended to
connote the freedom of mind from the wavering state between the two courses; “Is it?” or “Is it
not?”
6
“Asynchronous volition” is the name given to it in the Paṭṭhāna, and it is known by the name of kamma
in the actions of body, speech and mind.

23
 These last six mental properties are not common to all classes of consciousness, but severally
enter into their composition in some cases. Hence they are called particulars. They make thirteen
if they are added to the common properties; and both, taken together, are called mixers as they
enter into composition both moral and immoral consciousness.

The Immoral Properties

14. Lobha ethically means greed, but psychologically it means agglutination of mind with
objects. It is sometimes called taṇhā (craving), sometimes abhijjhā (covetousness), sometimes
kāma (lust), and sometimes rāga (sensual passion).
15. Dosa in its ethical sense is hate, but psychologically it means the violent striking of mind at
the object (i.e., conflict). It has two other names paṭigha (repugnance) and vyāpāda (ill-will).
16. Moha means dullness or lack of understanding. It is also called avijjā (nescience), aññāṇa
(not knowing) and adassana (not seeing).
The above three are called the three immoral roots, as they are the main sources of all
immorality.
17. Diṭṭhi means error or wrong view in matters of philosophy. It takes impermanence for
permanence, non-soul for soul, and moral activities for immoral ones; or it denies that there are
any results of action, and so forth.
18. Māna means conceit or wrong estimation. It wrongly imagines the name-and-form (nāma-
rūpa) to be an “I,” and estimates it as noble or ignoble according to the caste, creed, or family,
and so on, to which the person belongs.
19. Issā means envy, lack of appreciation, or absence of inclination to congratulate others
upon their success in life. It also means a disposition to find fault with others.
20. Macchariya means selfishness, meanness, or unwillingness to share with others.
21. Kukkucca means worry, anxiety, or undue remorse for what has been done wrongly, or for
right actions that have been left undone. There are two wrongs in the world, namely, doing evil
deeds and failing to do meritorious deeds. There are also two ways of repenting, thus “I have
done evil acts,” or “I have left undone meritorious acts, such as charity, virtue, and so forth.” “A
fool always invents plans after all is over,” runs the saying. So worry is of two kinds, with
regard to forgetfulness and with regard to evil, “sins of omission” and “sins of commission.”
22. Ahirika means shamelessness. When an evil act is about to be committed, no feeling of
shame such as “I will be corrupted if I do this,” or “Some people may know this of me,” arises in
him who is shameless.
23. Anottappa means utter recklessness as regarding such consequences as self-accusation (“I
have been foolish; I have done wrong,” and so forth), accusations by others, punishment in the
present life inflicted by rulers, and punishment to be suffered in the realms of misery in the next
life.
24. Uddhacca means restlessness or distraction of mind as regards an object.
25. Thīna means slothfulness of mind, that is, the dimness of the mind’s consciousness of an
object.
26. Middha means slothfulness of mental properties that is, the dimness of the faculties of each
of the mental properties, such as contact, feeling, and so forth.

24
 27. Vicikicchā means perplexity or sceptical doubt, that is, not believing what ought to be
believed.
The above fourteen kinds are called akusala-dhamma (immoral states); in fact, they are real
immoralities.

The Moral Properties

28. Alobha means disinterestedness of mind as regards an object. It is also called nekkhamma-
dhātu (the element of renunciation) and anabhijjhā (liberality).
29. Adosa or amity, in its ethical sense, means inclination of mind in the direction of its object,
or purity of mind. It is also called avyāpāda (non-ill-will or peace of mind) and mettā (loving-
kindness).
30. Amoha means knowing things as they are. It is also called ñāṇa (knowledge), pañña
(wisdom), vijjā (true knowledge), sammā-diṭṭhi (right view).
These three are called the three moral roots as they are the main sources of all morality.
31. Saddhā means faith in what ought to be believed.
32. Sati means constant mindfulness in good things so as not to forget them.
33. Hiri means modesty, that is, hesitation in doing evil deeds through shame of being known
to do them.
34. Ottappa means moral dread, that is, hesitation in doing evil deeds through fear of self-
accusation, or accusation by others, or punishment in this world and in the realms of misery.
35. Tatra-majjhattatā is balance of mind, that is, the mode of mind which neither cleaves to an
object nor repulses it. This is called upekkhā-brahmavihāra, equanimity of the sublime abodes, and
upekkhā-sambojjhaṅga, equanimity that pertains to the factors of enlightenment.
36. Kāya-passaddhi means composure of mental properties.
37. Citta-passaddhi means composure of mind. Composure means that the mental properties
are set at rest and have become cool, as they are free from the three immoral roots, which cause
annoyance in doing good deeds.
38. Kāya-lahutā means buoyancy of mental properties.
39. Citta-lahutā means buoyancy of mind. Buoyancy means that the mental properties have
become light, as they are free from the immoral properties, which weigh against them in the
doing of good deeds. It should be explained in the same manner as the rest.
40. Kāya-mudutā means pliancy of mental properties.
41. Citta-mudutā means pliancy of mind.
42. Kāya-kammaññatā means fitness for work of the mental properties.
43. Citta-kammaññatā means the fitness for work of the mind.
44. Kāya-pāguññatā means proficiency of the mental properties.
45. Citta-pāguññatā means proficiency of the mind. Proficiency here means skilfulness.
46. Kāyujukatā means rectitude of mental properties.
47. Cittujukatā means rectitude of mind.

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 48. Sammā-vācā means right speech, that is, abstinence from the four wrong modes of speech:
lying, slander, abusive language, and idle talk.
49. Sammā-kammantā means right action, that is, abstinence from the three wrong acts: killing,
stealing, and sexual misconduct.
50. Sammā-ājīva means right livelihood.
The above three are called the three abstinences.
51. Karuṇā means pity, sympathy, compassion, or wishing to help those who are in distress.
52. Muditā means appreciation of and delight in the success of others.
These last two are called sublime abodes (brahma-vihāra) and are also called illimitables
(appamaññā).

Nibbāna
Nibbāna may be classified into three kinds:
1. Freedom or deliverance from the plane of misery is the first Nibbāna.
2. Freedom or deliverance from the world of sense-desire is the second Nibbāna.
3. Freedom or deliverance from the fine-material and the immaterial worlds is the third
Nibbāna.7
Consciousness, the fifty-two mental properties, and Nibbāna altogether make up fifty-four
mental phenomena. Thus the twenty-eight material phenomena and fifty-four mental
phenomena make up eighty-two ultimate things which are called ultimate facts. On the other
hand, self, soul, creature, person, and so forth, are conventional facts.

Causes I
Of these eighty-two ultimate things Nibbāna, inasmuch as it lies outside the scope of birth (jāti),
does not need any cause for its maintenance since it also does not come within the range of
decay and death (jarā-maraṇa). Hence Nibbāna is unconditioned and uncompounded. But with
the exception of Nibbāna, the other eighty-one phenomena, both mental and material, being
within the spheres of birth, decay, and death, are conditioned and compounded things.
Among the four causes already dealt with in connection with the material qualities, kamma is
merely an originator and mind (citta) is simply a stimulus. The physical body develops, stands,
and is maintained by the power of the heat element and by the power of the essence of
nutriment. If the forces of the latter two come to an end, the forces of the former two also can no
longer operate but cease simultaneously.
In the case of trees, for example, the seeds are only their origins. They grow, develop, and are
maintained by the elements of earth and water. If these two principles fail them, the power of
7
The first refers to the first of the four stages of emancipation, stream-entry (sotāpatti), where rebirth in
the lower worlds is excluded. Since, already at this stage, the final attainment of Nibbāna is assured after
at most seven existences, the author calls it, in anticipation, the first Nibbāna. The second applies to the
stage of the non-returner (anāgāmi) who has eliminated the fourth of the ten fetters, sensual lust (kāma-
rāga). The third is the stage of Arahatship where all fetters are destroyed, among these the desire for fine-
material and immaterial existence (rūpa- and arūpa-rāga).—(Ed.)

26
the seed also fails along with them. Here the physical body is like the tree; kamma is like the
seed; the heat-element is like the earth; the nutritive essence is like the rain-water, which falls
regularly at proper seasons; and mind is like the atmosphere and the heat of the sun, both of
which give support from outside.
With regard to the causes of mind and mental properties, three things are needed for the
arising of resultants: a past kamma, a base to depend upon, and an object. The first is like the
seed of the tree, the base is like the earth, and the object is like the rain-water.
Two things are necessary for the arising of each of the mental phenomena of the moral
properties, the immoral properties, and the ineffective properties, a base to depend upon, and
an object. However, to be more detailed, full rational exercise of attention (yoniso manasikāra, or
rationally-directed attention) is needed for the moral properties, and irrational exercise of
attention (ayoniso-manasikāra, or irrationally-directed attention) for the immoral properties. The
ineffective properties which have apperceptional functions have the same causes as the moral
properties. As for the two classes of consciousness called “turning towards (the object),” if they
precede the moral properties they have the same causes as the moral properties; if they precede
the immoral properties they have the same causes as the immoral properties. Here, yoniso-
manasikāra means proper exercise of attention and ayoniso-manasikāra means improper exercise
of attention. These are the functions of the two classes of consciousness called āvajjana, “turning
towards.” On seeing a man, if attention is rationally utilised, moral consciousness arises; and if
attention is irrationally utilised, immoral consciousness arises. There is no particular object
which purely of itself will cause to arise only a moral consciousness or only an immoral
consciousness. The process of the mind may be compared to a boat of which the āvajjana-citta or
“turning-towards-thought” is the helmsman. As the course of a boat lies entirely in the hands of
the helmsman, so too the occurrence of moral and immoral consciousness lies entirely in the
hands of the āvajjana-citta.
What the seed is to the tree, that the attention is to the moral properties and the immoral
properties. What the earth is to a tree, that their base is to the moral properties and immoral
properties. While what the rain-water is to a tree, that their object is to the moral properties and
immoral properties.

Causes II
We will now set forth the causes in another way.
Each of the six classes of consciousness has four causes.
For the arising of consciousness of sight, there is needed the eye-base, a form-object, light, and
attention. Unless there is light, the function of seeing will not take place, nor the process of
cognition. Attention is a name for the āvajjana-citta, which turns the mind towards the cognition
of the form-object.
For the arising of the consciousness of sound, there is needed the ear-base, a sound-object,
space, and attention. Here, space is needed for the sound to be communicated to the ear.
The function of hearing can take place only when it is present; the process of ear-door
cognition also occurs only when hearing takes place.
For the arising of the consciousness of smell, there is needed the nose-base, a smell-object, air,
and attention. Here, “air” means the air in the nose of the inhaled air. If this is not present,
odours cannot come into contact with the nose-base, and consequently the function of smelling

27
and the nose-base, and consequently the function of smelling and the nose-door cognition
cannot take place.
For the arising of the consciousness of taste, there is needed the tongue-base, an object of
taste, water, and attention. “Water” means wetness of the tongue. If the tongue is dry, the
savour or sapidity cannot come into contact with the tongue-base and consequently the function
of tasting and the tongue-door cognition cannot take place.
For the arising of the consciousness of touch, there is needed the body-base, an object of
touch, a degree of coarseness (thaddha) in the object of touch, and attention. Only a somewhat
coarse object of touch can make an impression upon the body-base. If the object of the touch is
too subtle, it cannot impinge upon the body-base. And unless there is impingement, neither
consciousness of touch nor the body-door cognition can arise.
For the arising of the consciousness of mind, there is needed the heart-base, an object of
thought, the mind-door, and attention. “Object of thought” (dhammārammaṇa) comprises the
following: all material qualities other than the five sense objects, all mental phenomena, all
ideas, and Nibbāna. The five-sense objects also can become objects of mind-consciousness but in
order to set forth what is not related to the five senses, only thought-objects are mentioned here.
The mind-door means the continuum of sub-consciousness (bhavaṅga). Though the heart-base is
the place where consciousness of mind arises, since it does not possess the appropriate kind of
sensuous organs, the impressions of objects cannot appear in the mind-door only.

The Two Abhiññanas or Super-Knowledges

Abhiññā means super-knowledge, the faculty of knowing pre-eminently beyond the knowledge
of ordinary mankind. It is of two kinds, samatha-abhiññā and dhamma-abhiññā.
Samatha-abhiññā, means super-knowledge acquired by carrying out of the exercises in calm
(samatha). It is of five different kinds:
1. Iddhividha-abhiññā
2. Dibbasota-abhiññā
3. Cetopariya-abhiññā
4. Pubbenivāsa-abhiññā
5. Yathākammupagābhiññā
The first is the supernormal powers of passing through the air, sinking into the earth, creating
wonderful things, transforming oneself into different personalities.
The second is extreme sensitivity of hearing, as is possessed by celestial beings.
The third is the supernormal knowledge of others’ thoughts.
The fourth is the supernormal knowledge of previous existences.
The fifth is the supernormal knowledge of the kamma in accordance with which living beings
are thrown into the various spheres of existence; it resembles the supernormal vision possessed
by celestial beings.
Dhamma-abhiññā means the insight by which are discerned all the things of ultimate truth
(mentioned in the section on the truths) together with their respective characteristics, which are
beyond the range of conventional truth. It is divided into three kinds:

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 1. Sutamaya-ñāṇa: knowledge acquired by learning
2. Cintāmaya-ñāṇa: knowledge acquired by reasoning
3. Bhāvanāmaya-ñāṇa: knowledge acquired by contemplation
The last of the three is again subdivided into two: (1) anubodha-ñāṇa; (2) paṭivedha-ñāṇa. Of these,
the former is the triple insight into impermanence, suffering, and no-soul, or the insight into
things with all their characteristics as they truly are. The latter is the supramundane knowledge
of the four paths. By this knowledge, which can dispel the darkness of the defilements (kilesa)
such as error, perplexity, and so forth, those who have attained the paths are brought into the
light.

The Three Pariññās or Profound Knowledges

Pariññā means profound knowledge. It is of three kinds:
1. Ñāta-pariññā : autological knowledge (lit. “knowledge of what has been understood”)
2. Tīraṇa-pariññā: analytical knowledge
3. Pahāna-pariññā: dispelling knowledge

Ñāta-pariññā or Autological Knowledge

Ñāta-pariññā means a profound and accurate discernment of mental and material phenomena
with all their proximate causes, and also of Nibbāna, as shown in the previous sections on the
truths and the causes. It discerns things deeply by means of dhamma-abhiññāṇa (philosophical
knowledge) in their ultimate aspects, dispelling all merely pictorial ideas or representations
(santhāna-paññatti), such as hair of the body, and so forth. Even if all of these are not discerned, if
only the Four Great Essentials out of twenty-eight material phenomena are discerned in the
aforesaid manner, it may be said that the function of ñāta-pariññā as regards rūpa (form), is
accomplished. As regards nāma, the mental side, if only four of the mental things—mind,
feeling, perception, and volition—are thoroughly discerned in the aforesaid manner, it may also
be said that the function of ñāta-pariññā as regards nāma is fulfilled. If Nibbāna can also be
discerned as shown above, the function of ñāta-pariññā would be fully realised.

Tīraṇa-pariññā: the Triple Knowledge of Impermanence, Ill, and No-soul

Tīraṇa-pariññā means a profound and accurate discernment of momentary phenomena (both
mental and material) with insight into rise and fall, by skilfully dissecting the continuity of
mentality and materiality (nāma and rūpa) into momentary ultimates. It is of three kinds:
1. Anicca-pariññā: knowledge of impermanence
2. Dukkha-pariññā: knowledge of ill or suffering
3. Anattā-pariññā: knowledge of no-soul
Anicca-pariññā means either a perfect or a qualified knowledge of the law of death: conventional
death and ultimate death. By “conventional death” we mean the kind of death concerning
which we are accustomed to say, according to the conventional truth, that “to die some time is
unavoidable for every living person or every living creature.” By ultimate death we mean the
momentary death of mental and material phenomena, which occurs innumerable times even in
one day. The former neither possesses the real salient feature of impermanence, nor does it lie
properly within the domain of aniccā-pariññā, but only of the recollection of death

29
(maraṇānussati). In fact, it is only the latter, ultimate death, which exhibits the salient feature of
impermanence, and lies within the domain of anicca-pariññā.
Dukkha-pariññā means either a perfect or a qualified knowledge of the intrinsic characteristic
ill or suffering. Here ill is of two kinds:
1. Vedayita-dukkha: ill as painful feeling
2. Bhayattha-dukkha: fear-producing ill
Of these two, by vedayita-dukkha, bodily and mental pains are meant; and by bodily pain is
meant the unbearable, unpleasant pain that comes to the various parts of the body; while mental
pain means such pains as soka (sorrow), parideva (lamentation), domanassa (grief), and upāyāsa
(despair), which are experienced by mind. Bhayattha-dukkha is that ill which falls within the
sphere of bhaya-ñāṇa (knowledge of things as fearful) and of ādīnava-ñāṇa (knowledge of things
as dangerous) to wit: jāti-dukkha (ill of birth), jarā-dukkha (ill of decay), maraṇa-dukkha (ill of
death), saṅkhāra-dukkha (ill of conditionality), and vipariṇāma-dukkha (ill of changeability). The
last two will be explained afterwards.

The Simile of the Dangerous Disease

Here is an illustration to show the difference between vedayita-dukkha and bhayattha-dukkha.
A man has a dangerous disease. He has to live on a simple diet, such as vegetables and fruit,
so as to keep himself healthy and the disease in a subdued condition. If he takes rich food, such
as poultry, fish, meat, and sweets, even though a sense of comfort and enjoyment may
accompany such a dainty meal, after partaking of it he will suffer pain and indigestion for the
whole day or maybe for many days, which will cause the disease to arise again in full force. The
more dainty the meal is, the longer will he suffer. Now suppose that a friend of his, with a view
to acquiring merit, brings him some nicely-cooked, buttered rice, fowl, fish, and meat. The man,
fearing the agony of pain which he will have to undergo if he should eat the meal, has to thank
his friend but decline it, telling him that the meal is too rich for him, and that should he eat it he
would be sure to suffer. In this instance, the richly-prepared food is, of course, the pleasurable
object, for it will probably furnish a nice savour to the palate while it is being eaten, which
feeling of pleasure is called vedayita-sukha. But to him who foresees that it will cause him such
pain as may break down his health, this same food is really an object devoid of pleasure. He
shrinks from and fears it, for he knows that the better the savour the longer he must suffer;
hence the pleasure his palate will derive from the food is to him a real fear-producing ill.
In the world, he who has not got rid of the error of ego and become safe against the danger of
the dispersion of life (vinipātana-bhaya), and its passage to realms of misery, is like the aforesaid
man who has the dangerous disease. The existences of men, devas, and Brahmas, and the
pleasures experienced therein, are like the richly-prepared food and the feeling of pleasure
derived from it. The state of being reborn in different existences after death is like the agony
which the man has to suffer after the enjoyment of the food.
Here, vedayita-dukkha is synonymous with dukkha-vedanā, which is present in the vedanā triad
of the “things conjoined with pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral feeling.” Bhayattha-dukkha is
synonymous with the truth of suffering (dukkha-sacca) and with dukkha as one of the intrinsic
characteristics, i.e., impermanence, ill or suffering, and no-soul (anicca, dukkha, anattā.)
Hence, the perfect as well as the qualified knowledge of the ill inherent in the existences of
men, devas, and Brahmas, including also the pleasures experienced therein, is called dukkha-
pariññā.

30
 Anattā-pariññā means the perfect or the qualified knowledge of mental and material
phenomena as possessing the characteristic of no-soul. By this knowledge of things as no-soul,
(anatta-ñāṇa), all the mental and material phenomena that belong to the ultimate truths are
discerned as having no-soul, self, or substance. By it also is discerned the personal nature of the
“person” of conventional truth. Neither are persons and creatures discerned as the soul or
personality of mental and material phenomena; nor is it assumed that there exists, apart from
these, a soul or personality which never dies but transmigrates from one existence to another. If
this knowledge attains to its highest degree, it is called anatta-pariññā. The triple knowledge of
impermanence, ill and no-soul is called tīraṇa-pariññā.

Pahāna-pariññā: Dispelling Knowledge

Pahāna-pariññā means the perfect or the qualified knowledge which dispels hallucinations. It
dispels the three hallucinations of permanency (nicca-vipallāsa) by means of the insight acquired
through the contemplation of impermanence: the three hallucinations of pleasure (sukha-
vipallāsa) and the three hallucinations of purity (subha-vipallāsa), by means of the insight
acquired through the contemplation of ill; and the three hallucinations of self (attā-vipallāsa) by
means of the insight acquired through the contemplation of no-soul.8
Here attā or soul is the supposed underlying essence of a pictorial idea (santhāna-paññatti),
and jīva or life is the supposed underlying essence of an aggregate-idea (santati-paññatti).
Of these two delusions, the former may be got rid of by a knowledge of the two kinds of
truth, the ultimate and the conventional; but the latter can be got rid of only when the anicca-
pariññā, the full knowledge of impermanence, reaches its summit.
Here, by santati is meant the continuum of aggregates of the same kind, and by nānā-santati is
meant the continua of aggregates of different kinds.
This santati is of two kinds, mental and material. And the continuum of the material variety of
aggregate is again sub-divided into four classes, namely, into those produced by kamma, by
mind, by temperature, by food. Each of these four kinds of continua is liable to change if its
respective causes change. When changes take place, the change of the continuum, of the
kamma-produced class is not apparent but that of the mind-produced class is very apparent. In
the one single act of sitting down many movements of the different parts of the body are to be
observed. These movements and actions are nothing but the changes in the continua of
aggregates.

The Growth, Decay, and Death of the Material Aggregates

In each aggregate there are three periods: birth, growth-and-decay, and death. In each step
taken in the act of walking there are beginning, middle, and end. These are respectively birth,
growth-and-decay, and death. Though we say “a step,” this connotes the whole body; that is to
say, the whole body undergoes change; the aggregates of the whole body undergo new births,
new growth-and-decays, and new deaths. If a hundred steps or a thousand steps are taken in
the course of a walk, then, a hundred or a thousand new births, new growth-and-decays, and
new deaths take place in the whole body. A step may also be divided into two, the lifting-up
aggregate and the laying-down aggregate of the foot. And in each single step, birth, growth-
and-decay, and death must be noted. The same holds good with regard to all the postures of the

8
The three hallucinations of permanency are erroneously perceiving, thinking and viewing the
impermanent as permanent. Similarly, in the case of pleasure, purity, and soul, the three hallucinations
each obtain by way of erroneous perception, thought and view.—Tr. & Ed.

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body, such as standing, sitting, sleeping, stretching out, drawing in. Only, what is to be
understood here is that all tired, wearied, inflammatory, irritative, inflictive, painful states are
changes in the continua of aggregates produced by temperature. Both in exhaling and inhaling,
beginning, middle, and end are all discernible. The phase of continuance of stability in the
existence of the aggregates is immediately followed by decay which, in connection with such
matter, is called exhaustion or weariness. It is produced by inflammatory and irritative matter,
and through it unbearably painful feelings arise. Then, through these painful feelings, people
become aware that exhaustion is present; but they do not apprehend the perpetual growth-and-
decay of the continua. Weariness is indeed the name applied to the growth-and-decay of the
continua of aggregates which at first spring up strongly and cheerfully, while the end of each of
these aggregates is the death of the continuum (santati-maraṇa). In the same manner it is to be
understood that there are beginning, middle, and end in every aggregate produced by laughter,
smiling, gladness, joy, grief, sorrow, lamentation, groans, sobs, greed, hate, faith, love, and so
forth. Also, in speaking it is obvious that every word has its beginning, its middle, and its end,
which are respectively the momentary birth, growth-and-decay, and death of speech.
With regard to matter produced by temperature, aggregates arise and cease at every stroke of
our fan when, in hot weather, we fan ourselves. In exactly the same way, while we are bathing
there arise and cease cool aggregates each time we pour water over ourselves. Tired, fatigued,
ailing aggregates, generally speaking, are changes in the temperature-produced continua.
Through hot and cold foods we observe different changes in the body that are sometimes due to
temperature (utu). The arising, aggravation, and curing of diseases by unsuitable or suitable
food and medicines are also due to temperature. Even in the mind-produced aggregates, there
may also be many changes which are due to temperature.
With regard to the aggregates produced by nutritive essence, poverty or abundance of flesh,
vigour or defect of vital force must be taken into account. By vigour of vital force, we mean that
as soon as the food taken has entered the stomach, the vital force which pervades the whole
body becomes vigorous and is strengthened. Therefore, the most necessary thing for all
creatures is to prevent the vital force from failing, and to promote it. What we call “getting a
living in the world” is nothing else but getting regular supplies of food for the maintenance of
the vital forces. If people hold that it is of great importance to remain alive, it will be obvious to
them that a sufficient supply of suitable food is also a matter of great importance. It is more
necessary to supply food than to increase the blood; for if the supply of food to the stomach is
reduced, all blood and flesh in the body will gradually decrease. The life of the kamma-
produced material qualities, such as the eye, the ear, and so forth, is the jīvita-rūpa, or the vital
force which depends upon the supply of food. If the supply of food fails, the whole body,
together with the vital force, fails. If the supply of fresh food is suspended for six or seven days,
the vital force and all the kamma-produced material qualities come to an end. Then it is said
that a being dies. Now, it is not necessary to indicate the changes (i.e. the birth, the growth-and-
decay, and death) of the aggregates of the food-produced material qualities, for they are
apparent to everyone.

The Growth, Decay, and Death of the Mental Phenomena

What has been shown is the growth-and-decay and the death of the continua of material
aggregates.
Now come the continua of mental phenomena. They are also very numerous. Everyone
knows his own mind. There are continua of various kinds of greed, of various kinds of hate, of
various kinds of dullness, of various kinds of love. In the single act of sitting, the arising of

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countless thoughts is recognised by everyone. Each process of thought has its birth, decay, and
death. Everyone knows of himself: “Greed is rising in me now,” or “Hate is rising in me now,”
or “Greed has ceased in me,” or “Hate has ceased in me.” But it cannot be said that it has ceased
forever or that it has come to its final end, for this is only the temporary cessation or death of the
process or continuum of thoughts. If circumstances are favourable, they will rise again instantly.
What has just been said is in exposition of the mental continuum.
Ñāta-pariññā is relevant to tīrana-pariññā, which in turn is relevant to pahāna-pariññā which is
the sole necessary thing.

The Exposition of Tīraṇa-pariññā

The Mark of Impermanence in Matter

The three salient marks or features are:
1. Anicca-lakkhaṇa: the mark of impermanence
2. Dukkha-lakkhaṇa: the mark of ill or suffering
3. Anatta-lakkhaṇa: the mark of no-soul
Anicca-lakkhaṇa, or the mark of impermanence, is the characteristic of the sphere of vipariṇāma
and of aññathābhāva. Vipariṇāma means metastasis, that is, a radical change in nature: a change
from the present state into that which is not the present state. Aññathābhāva means subsequent
change of mode. If the spheres of vipariṇāma and aññathābhāva are exposed to the mind’s eye,
it will be distinctly discerned that the mental and material phenomena which are within the
spheres of these two, vipariṇāma and aññathābhāva, are really impermanent things. Therefore
we have said: “Anicca-lakkhaṇa or the mark of impermanence, is the characteristic of the sphere
of vipariṇāma and of aññathābhāva.” When we closely observe and analyse the flame of a lamp
burning at night, we take note of the flame together with its five salient features: birth, growth,
continuance, decay, and death. We note that the fire is momentarily arising. This is the birth of a
material phenomenon; but it is not fire. We observe that the flame, after arising, is constantly
developing. This is the growth of the material phenomenon; but it is not fire. We observe that
the flame is uninterruptedly continuing in its normal state. This is the continuance of the
material phenomenon; but it is not fire. We observe that the flame is dying down. This is the
decay of the material phenomenon; but it is not fire. We observe that the flame is dying away.
This is the death of the material phenomenon; but it is not fire. The property of hotness is, of
course, fire. The flame quivers merely on account of the presence of these five salient features.
Sometimes it may quiver when the lamp is removed, and in that case it may be said that the
quivering is due to wind. These five salient features are therefore the subsequent changes
(aññathābhāva) of the flame, called the marks of impermanence. By observing and taking note of
these five salient features, it can be understood that the flame is an impermanent thing.
Similarly, it should be understood that all moving things are impermanent things.
The mobile appearances of the most delicate atoms of matter, which are not discernible by the
human eye, are discovered by the help of that clever revealer of nature’s secrets, the microscope.
Through the discovery of these moving appearances, it is believed by certain Western people—
Leibnitz and Fechner, for example—that these material phenomena are living creatures. But in
truth they are not living creatures, and the moving appearances are due only to the
reproduction of the material phenomena through the function of the physical change (utu). By

33
reproduction we here mean the ācaya-rūpa. In some bodies, of course, there may be living
creatures in existence.
When we look at the flowing water of a river or a stream, or at the boiling water in the kettle,
we discern moving appearances. These are the reproductions of material phenomena produced
by physical change. And in water which seems still or quiet to the naked eye, moving
appearances will also be seen with the help of a microscope. These two are reproductions of
material phenomena produced by physical change. Here, “reproductions” means the constant
integrations of new phenomena, which are called ācaya-rūpas. By discerning the integrations of
new phenomena, the subsequent death or disappearances of the old phenomena, which are
called the aniccatā-rūpa, is also discernible. When the integration of new matter and the death of
the old matter take place side-by-side, the santati-rūpa is discernible. When the reproduction is
excessive, the apacaya-rūpa is discernible. When the death of old matter is excessive, the jaratā-
rūpa is discernible. We have shown above that in every tree, root, branch, leaf, sprout, flower,
and fruit there are these five salient marks. So, when we look at them with the aid of a
microscope, we see that they are full of very infinitesimal bodies moving about as if they were
living creatures, but in fact these are mere reproductions of matter produced by physical
change.
As regards the bodies of creatures or persons, these five salient marks are also discernible in
every member of the body, such as hair, hair of the body, finger-nails, toe-nails, teeth, the inner
skin, the outer skin, muscles, nerves, veins, big bones, small bones, marrow, kidney, heart, liver,
membrane, lungs, intestines, entrails, undigested food, digested food, and the brain. So, when
we look at them with the help of a microscope, moving organisms like very small creatures are
seen. These are the reproductions of matter produced by kamma, mind, food, and physical
change. There may, of course, be microbes in some cases. Thus, if we look with the mind’s eye,
the mark of impermanence in all the matter of the whole body will clearly be discerned.
What has just been expounded is the mark of impermanence in matter.

The Mark of Impermanence in Mental Phenomena

In mental phenomena, i.e., mind and its concomitants, the mark of impermanence which has
two distinct features, radical change (vipariṇāma) and the subsequent change (aññathābhāva), is
no less clearly to be seen. In the world, we all know that there are many different terms and
expressions applied to the different modes and manners of the elements of mind and body,
which are incessantly rising and ceasing. For instance, there are two expressions, “seeing” and
“not-seeing,” which are used in describing the function of the eye. Seeing is the term assigned to
the element of sight-consciousness; or, when we say “one sees,” this is the term applied in
describing the arising of sight-consciousness from the conjuncture of four causes, namely, eye-
base, visual form, light, and attention. And when we say, “one does not see,” this is the phrase
we use in describing the non-existence of sight-consciousness. When, at night in the dark, no
source of light is present, sight-consciousness does not arise upon the eye-base; it is temporarily
suspended. But it will arise when the light from a fire, for instance, is introduced. And when the
light is put out, sight-consciousness also will again cease. As these are five salient marks present
in the flame, if the light comes to be, seeing also comes to be, sight also arises. If the light
develops, seeing also develops. If the light continues, seeing also continues. If the light decays,
seeing also decays. And if the light ceases, then seeing also ceases. In the daytime also, these two
terms “seeing” and “not-seeing” may be used. If there is no obstruction, one sees; and if there is
obstruction, one does not see. As regards eye-lids, if they are opened, one sees; and if they are
shut, one does not see. What has just been expounded is the vipariṇāma and aññathābhāva of

34
sight consciousness through the occasioning cause, light. In cases where the destruction of the
eye-base occurs after conception, sight-consciousness also is lost. If the visual form is taken
away out of view, sight-consciousness also ceases. While sleeping, as there is no attention, sight-
consciousness subsides for some time. The genesis of all classes of consciousness that take part
in the process of eye-door perception is to be understood by the term “seeing”; and the
subsidence of the same is to be understood by the term “not-seeing.”
Similarly, in each function of hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching, a pair of expressions
(existing or otherwise) is obtainable, and these must be dealt with as to their impermanency, i.e.,
vipariṇāma and aññathābhāva, in the same way as sight-consciousness. With regard to mind-
cognition, it has many different modes, and each is apparent in its nature of vipariṇāma and
aññathābhāva through the changes of the different kinds of thought. Among the mental
concomitants, taking feeling for example, the changes of pleasure, pain, joy, grief, and hedonic
indifference, are very evident. So also, the changes of perception, initial application, sustained
application, from good to bad and vice versa, are very obvious. It may be easily noticed by
anyone that in the single posture of sitting, greed, disinterestedness, hate, and amity, each arise
by turns.
What has just been expounded is the impermanence of mental phenomena. So much for the
mark of impermanence.

The Mark of Ill

Briefly speaking, the marks of impermanence in vipariṇāma and aññathābhāva may also be
called the mark of ill, for they are to be feared by the wise in saṃsāra, the wheel of life. Why are
they to be feared by the wise? Because, in the world, the dangers of decay and death are the
dangers most to be feared. Vipariṇāma is nothing but momentary decay and death; it is the road
to death, and to the dispersion of life into different spheres. All creatures remain alive without
moving to another existence only because they are sustained by various methods of
preservation. Vipariṇāma is also to be feared on account of the disadvantages which may fall on
ourselves. Ācaya, upacaya and santati, the features of aññathābhāva, may also bring many
disadvantages. They may establish in the physical body many kinds of disease and ailments.
They may establish in the mental continuum many kinds of afflictions (kilesa), many kinds of
hallucination, and many other disadvantages. Every material phenomenon possesses these two
marks of impermanence; and also every mental phenomenon pertaining to the three realms of
being has the same two marks of impermanence. Therefore the mental and material phenomena
of men, devas, and Brahmas are all subject to ill. The two marks of impermanence being always
present, there are approximately three different marks of ill, dukkha-dukkhatā, saṅkhāra-dukkhatā,
and vipariṇāma-dukkhatā.
Dukkha-dukkhatā means both bodily (kāyika) and mental (cetasika) pain. Saṅkhāra-dukkhatā is the
state of material and mental phenomena which exists only if they are always determined,
conditioned, and maintained with a great deal of exertion in every existence. The existences of
Brahmas have a great amount of saṅkhāra-dukkha. Hardly one out of a hundred, who has
abandoned all sensual pleasures, renounced the world, and practised the sublime states
(brahma-vihārā) without regard to his own life, hereafter attains the existence of a Brahmā.
Though people know that such existence is a very good thing, they do not venture to practise
them, for they take them to be very hard, difficult and pain-giving. When jhānas and
supernormal intellections are attained, they must be maintained with great care and trouble, for
if not, they are liable to be lost in a moment upon the most trifling lapse.

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 Vipariṇāma-dukkhatā is the state of destruction, or death occurring at any time, day or hour,
whenever circumstances are favourable to it. The existences of men, devas, and Brahmas are the
real ills, since they are severally subject to the said three marks of ill.

The Eleven Marks of Ill

Speaking broadly, there are eleven marks of ill :
1. Jāti-dukkha: ill of birth
2. Jarā-dukkha: ill of decay
3. Maraṇa-dukkha: ill of death
4. Soka-dukkha: ill of sorrow
5. Parideva-dukkha: ill of lamentation
6. Kāyika-dukkha: bodily ill
7. Cetasika-dukkha: mental ill
8. Upāyāsa-dukkha: ill of despair
9. Appiya-sampayoga-dukkha: ill due to association with enemies
10. Piyavippayoga-dukkha: ill due to separation from loved ones
11. Icchā-vighāta-dukkha: ill due to non-fulfilment of wishes
Of these, jāti means birth or production. It is of three kinds, kilesajāti: birth of defilements,
kammajāti: birth of actions, and vipākajāti: birth of effects.
Of these three, kilesajāti is the birth or the production of defilements such as greed, hate,
dullness, error, conceit, and so forth.
Vipākajāti is the birth or production of different kinds of diseases, different kinds of ailments,
and different kinds of painful feelings in the body, or the production of mean and low existence
such as those of birds and animals, and so forth. Among the kilesajātis, greed is very fierce and
violent. It will rise at any time it finds favourable circumstances, like fire fed with gunpowder.
When it rises, it is very difficult to suppress it by any means whatever; it will grow in volume in
an instant. Hence, it is a real “ill,” since it is very much to be feared by all noble beings. The like
should be understood in connection with hate, dullness, and so forth, which ethically are one
thousand and five hundred in number. Just as a hill which is the abode of very poisonous
serpents is feared and no one dares to approach it, so also the existences of men, devas, and
Brahmās are feared; and no noble beings dare approach them with the views “my self” and “my
body,” for they are the birth-places of the said defilements. Therefore they are real “ills” that are
to be feared.
Of the kammajāti, immoral actions of body, speech, and thought are the development of the
defilements. Therefore they are equally as fierce as the defilements. Hence this kammajāti is also
a real “ill” to be feared by all noble ones. Just as the villages where thieves and robbers take up
their quarters are feared, and good people do not venture to approach them, so also the
existences of men, devas, and Brahmās are feared, and none bent on deliverance dare approach
them with such views as “my self” and “my body,” for they are the birth-places of the said
kammajāti.
As to vipākajāti, owing to the dreadfulness of kilesajāti and kammajāti, vipākajāti the rebirth into
the planes of misery, is likewise always a terrible thing in the revolution of existences.

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 Therefore, the existences of men, and so forth, to which the vipākajāti together with the
kilesajāti and the kammajāti are joined, are real “ill.” The moral actions and the fortunate realms
furnish food for the defilements, fuel for the flames of the defilements, so that the birth of moral
actions and the birth of results therefrom, are all obtainable in the kilesajāti. So much for
jātidukkha, the ill of birth.
Concerning the jarādukkha and maraṇadukkha: these are the momentary decays and deaths
which follow a being from the moment of conception, and are at all times ready to cause him to
fall in decay, death, or unfortunate realms whenever opportunities occur. They also obtain in
connection with vipariṇāma-dukkha: and since they dog the steps of all living beings in every
existence from the moment of conception, the existences of men, devas, and Brahmas are real
“ill”. So much for the ills of decay and death.
The ills of sorrow, lamentation, bodily pain, mental pain, and despair always follow the
existences of men and devas, ready to arise whenever an opportunity occurs. The realms of the
hells and the peta worlds are the realms of sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair. So
much for the five kinds of dukkha.
To come into contact with persons, creatures, things, or objects with which one does not wish
to unite or which one does not wish even to see is the ill due to association with enemies.
Separation from persons, creatures, things, and objects which one always wishes to meet or
be united with, from which one never wishes to be parted in life or by death—this is the ill due
to separation from loved ones.
To strive hard, but all in vain, to obtain anything is the ill due to non-fulfillment of wishes.
These “ills” or dukkhas are very numerous and very evident, and are also frequently met
with in the world. Hence the existences, of men, devas, and Brahmas are real “ills.” Of these
eleven varieties of dukkhas, birth, decay, and death are the most important.
So much for the mark of ill.

The Mark of No-soul

The mark by which mental and material phenomena are to be understood as no-soul is called
the anatta-lakkhaṇa, the mark of no-soul. In considering the word anattā, the meaning of attā
ought first to be understood. Attā in ordinary sense means essence, or substantiality. By essence
or substantiality is meant, as we already explained in connection with ultimate truth, for
instance the earth which is the essence or the substantiality of a pot. The word “pot” is merely
the name by which is indicated a certain pictorial idea (santhāna-paññatti); it is not a name for
earth. And a pictorial idea possesses no essence or substantiality as an ultimate thing; here earth
alone is ultimate thing which possesses essence or substantiality. If the question is asked: “Does
such a thing as pot exist in the world?” those who are unable to differentiate between the two
kinds of truth, ultimate and conventional, would answer that the pot exists. These should then
be asked to point out the pot. They will now point to an earthen pot near at hand, saying: “Is not
that a pot?” But it is not correct of them to assert that earth is pot; it is a false assertion. Why is it
a false assertion? Simply because earth is an ultimate thing and has essence or substantiality,
while pot is a mere conception having no essence or substantiality, and thus, like space, is void.
To assert of earth that it is pot is in effect to try to make out that essential earth constitutes the
essence or substantiality of the pot, which is actual fact, seeing that pot as a mere representation
of the mind possesses that no substantial essence whatever. Here, what actually is non-existent
pot becomes existent pot, and earth also becomes attā of the pot, so that earth and pot become

37
one and the same thing; the identity of the one is confused with the identity of the other. It is for
this reason that we call this a false assertion. In this illustration, earth corresponds to the five
aggregates or their constituents, material and mental phenomena, while pot corresponds to
persons and living creatures. Just as earth becomes the essence of pot in the statement that the
earth is the pot, so also the five aggregates or their constituents become the attā or the essence of
persons and creatures, when it is said that the aggregates are persons and creatures. This is the
meaning of attā.
Now for anattā. In the expression “earthen pot,” if one is able to discern that earth is one thing
and pot another, and that earth is an ultimate thing and pot a mere conception of the mind; and
again, that earth is not pot and pot is not earth, and also that it is false to call earth a pot, and to
call pot earth; then the earth becomes not the essence or attā of the pot, but becomes anattā, void
of essence; at the same time, the pot is seen to be void like space, since it is a mere conception of
form. A like result is obtained if one is able to discern the five aggregates and the material and
mental phenomena thus: The five aggregates are ultimate things; persons and creatures are
ideas derived from their forms and continua; hence the phenomena are not persons and
creatures; and persons and creatures are not the phenomena. If the phenomena are called
persons and creatures, this is a false naming of them; and if persons and creatures are called the
phenomena, this is false too. Accordingly, the phenomena become not the essence of persons
and creatures, but become anattā, or the reverse of substantial essence. Also, persons and
creatures become quite evidently void and empty, inasmuch as they are mere ideas derived
from the forms and continua of the phenomena.
What has just been said is in exposition of the meaning of anattā.

How the Marks of Impermanence and Ill become Marks of No-

soul
The marks of impermanence and ill expounded in the foregoing pages are also the marks of no-
soul. How? It is supposed that the ideas (paññatti) of persons and creatures are eternal and
immortal9 both in this existence and in those that follow, and it has been explained that the
9
In Buddhist philosophy there are three things which are “eternal and immortal,” in the sense in which
that phrase is used here in the text. These three things are, in Pāli, paññatti, ākāsa, and nibbāna; that is,
concepts (or ideas), space, and that which supervenes when craving, hate and delusion are completely
wiped out. It is held that the existence of these three has nothing whatever to do with time, never enters
time, is never limited by time. The law of rise-and-fall, of arising and ceasing, which applies to all other
things, does not apply to them. They exist independent of whether any particular being thinks them or
not. In other words, they are eternal and immortal and independent of time, not in any sense of being
unbrokenly continuous in time. Nibbāna is distinguished from the two other “eternal and immortal”
things in that it has santilakkhaṇa or it is santibhāva, a word which may be rendered quite adequately in
English as “the great peace” and all that this implies.—Translator.
The statement of the Translator, the Venerable U Ñāṇa, ascribing the teaching on the “eternal
nature” of concepts and space to Buddhist philosophy in general, requires qualification. This teaching is
obviously of late origin, being found neither in the Abhidhamma Piṭaka nor in the old Abhidhamma
commentaries. The earliest reference might be in the Parivāra, a late summary of the Vinaya, appended as
the last book to the Vinaya Piṭaka. There, in a stanza, it is said that “all formations (saṅkhārā) are
impermanent, painful, not-self and conditioned (saṅkhata); Nibbāna and space are not-self”—which, by
implication, may mean that the latter two (which do not include concept) are unconditioned (asaṅkhata). It
was characteristic of the later schools (also the Śrāvakayāna school of the Vaibhāṣikas) to have enlarged
the list of the asaṅkhata-dhammā, while the Dhammasaṅgaṇi (and so also the Sutta Piṭaka) speaks only of
Nibbāna as unconditioned (asaṅkhata). It is also significant that the two Abhidhamma manuals,
Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha and Abhidhammāvatāra, both have chapters on concept (paññatti), but make no

38
phenomena are not eternal since they are subject to momentary decay and death which are the
marks of impermanence; and also because they are constantly ceasing and being reproduced
innumerable times even in one day, the mark of that kind of impermanence is known as
aññathābhāva.
But in the ideas of persons and creatures no marks of radical change (viparināma) and
subsequent change (aññathābhāva) are to be seen. lf such marks were to be found in the ideas of
persons and creatures, then, of course, these ideas would also be subject to birth, decay, and
death, and would be reborn and decay and die many times even in one day. But these marks are
not to be found in the ideas; we discern these marks only in the mental and material
phenomena. Therefore it comes to this, that the mental and material phenomena (nāma-rūpa-
dhammā) are not to be regarded as the essence or substantiality of persons and creatures. It is in
this way that the mark of impermanence becomes the mark of no-soul, in accordance with the
text: asārakatthena anattā, “On account of being without a core, the word anattā is used.”
How does the mark of ill become the mark of no-soul? The marks of ill are very evil, very
disadvantageous, and very unsatisfactory; and all creatures desire to be in good states, to be
prosperous, and to be satisfied. If mental and material phenomena are the true essence of
persons and creatures, the phenomena and the person must be one and the same. And if this be
so, their desires must also be one and the same; that is, the person’s desire must also be that of
the phenomena, and vice-versa. But if this is not so, then each must be a thing separate from the
other.
Here, by a “person’s desire” we mean greed (lobha) and desire-to-do (chanda); and by “the
desire of phenomena,” the happening of things in accordance with their causes. A main
characteristic of persons and creatures is the craving for happiness of mind and body; and an
outstanding feature of phenomena is their uniformity with their causes or conditions, that is, the
arising and the ceasing of phenomena are subject to causes, and never occur entirely in
accordance with the desires of persons in defiance of causes. For example: if warmth is wanted,
the cause that produces warmth must be sought out; or if coldness is wanted, the cause that
produces coldness must be sought out. If long life is wanted, the causes of long life, for instance,
a daily supply of suitable food, must be sought out; for no man can live long merely by wishing
to live long. And if rebirth in the worlds of the fortunate is wanted, then the cause of this, moral
or virtuous deeds, must be sought out; for no one can get to the worlds of the fortunate merely
by wishing to be reborn there.
It is sometimes erroneously believed that one can be whatever one wishes to be, because upon
occasions something one has wished for is later on fulfilled. But in actual fact it has come about
only in accordance with a cause that was previously sought out and brought into play. It is
falsely believed by many people that one can maintain oneself according to one’s wish when in
sound health or at ease in any of the four bodily postures, ignoring the fact that the cause, the
partaking of food on previous days, was sought by them and brought into play. They also
mistakenly think that their wishes are always fulfilled, when they find themselves living
happily in buildings previously in existence. But in truth, if one looks around in this world and
sees how great and numerous are the businesses, affairs, occupations and so forth, of men in all
their extent and variety, he will soon discern with the mind’s eye that the saṅkhāra-dukkha, the
suffering associated with conditioned phenomena, is great and manifold in precisely the same
measure as men’s activities. And this dukkha is due to the establishing of the causes necessary
for acquiring of the desired effects; for the phenomena can never become exactly as beings wish
them to be or order them to be. Thus, simply in beholding the marks of saṅkhāra-dukkhatā all
about us, it becomes evident that phenomena do not spontaneously conform to the desires of

mention of its eternal and unconditioned nature—(Nyanaponika Thera)

39
persons and creatures, and hence they are not their essence or substance. In addition to this, it
also should be well noted how conspicuous is non-substantiality with regard to the other types
of ill aforementioned, as dukkha-dukkhatā, vipariṇāma-dukkhatā, jāti-dukkha, jarā-dukkha, maraṇa-
dukkha, and so forth.
So much for the mark of no-soul from the standpoint of ill or suffering.

The Three Knowledges pertaining to Insight of the Three Marks

The three knowledges pertaining to the insight that fully grasps the meaning of the three marks
are called tīraṇa-pariññā.
These three knowledges pertaining to the insight are:
1. Anicca-vipassanā-ñāṇa: insight-knowledge in contemplating impermanence
2. Dukkha-vipassanā-ñāṇa: insight-knowledge in contemplating ill
3. Anattā-vipassanā-ñāṇa: insight-knowledge in contemplating no-soul
Of these three knowledges, the last-mentioned must be acquired primarily and fully in order to
dispel the error of the soul doctrine. And in order to obtain fully this last-mentioned knowledge,
the first must be introduced; for, if the first is well discerned, the last is easily acquired. As for
the second, it does not culminate through the acquisition of the first. It is owing to imperfection
in obtaining the second knowledge that the transcendental path has four grades, and that lust
and conceit are left undispelled. Hence the most important thing for Buddhists to do is to free
themselves entirely from the ills of the realms of misery (apāyadukkha), i.e., the suffering
experienced through rebirth in subhuman worlds. There is no way of escaping from them open
to men when the teachings of the Buddha vanish from the world. To escape from the ills of
unhappy rebirths means to put away all immoral actions and erroneous views, and to put away
all erroneous views means to put away utterly the view of soul. Therefore, in this life in which
we are so fortunate to encounter the teaching of the Buddha, we should strive to contemplate or
meditate upon the impermanence of things, and thus to bring to fullness the insight-knowledge
of no-soul. In confirmation of this, here is a quotation from the texts:
To him, O Meghiya, who comprehends impermanence, the comprehension of no-soul
manifests itself. And to him who comprehends no-soul, the fantasy of an ‘I’ presiding over
the five aggregates is brought to destruction; and even in this present life he attains
Nibbāna.
There is no need for us to expatiate upon the truth of this text, for we have already shown how
the mark of impermanence can become the mark also of no-soul.
The insight exercises can be practised not only in solitude, as is necessary in the case of the
exercise of calm or samatha, but they can be practised everywhere. Maturity of knowledge is the
main thing required. For if knowledge is ripe, the insight of impermanence may easily be
accomplished while listening to a discourse or while living a householder’s ordinary life. To one
whose knowledge is developed, everything within and without oneself, within and without
one’s house, within and without one’s village or town, is an object at the sight of which the
insight of impermanence may spring up and develop. But those whose knowledge is, so to
speak, still in its infancy, can accomplish this only if they practise assiduously the exercises in
calm.
Consideration of the momentary deaths which occur innumerable times even during the
wink of an eye is only required in discussion on Abhidhamma. But in meditating or practising

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the exercises in insight, all that is needed is consideration of the santati-vipariṇāma and the
santati-aññathābhāva, that is, of the radical change and sequent change of the continua, things
which are evident to and personally experienced by every man alive.
The exercises in insight that ought to be taken up are, first, the four great elements from
among the material qualities, and the six classes of cognition from among the mental qualities. If
one can discern the arising and ceasing of the four elements innumerable times in one day
alone, the changes, arisings, and ceasings of the derivative material qualities are also discerned.
Of the mental qualities also, if the changes of consciousness are discerned, those of the mental
concomitants are simultaneously discerned. In particular, the conspicuous feelings, perceptions,
volitions, and so forth, from among the mental qualities, and the conspicuous forms, odours,
and so forth from among the material qualities may be taken as objects for the exercise, as they
will quickly enable a meditator to acquire with ease the insight of impermanence.
However, from the philosophical point of view, the insight is acquired in order to dispel such
notions as “creatures,” “persons,” “soul,” “life,” “permanence,” “pleasures,” and to get rid of
the hallucinations. The acquisition of insight also mainly depends on a sound grasp of the three
marks, which have been sufficiently dealt with already.
So much for the exposition of tīraṇapariññā.

The Exposition of Pahāna-pariññā

The Five Kinds of Dispelling

In Buddhist teachings there are five kinds of pahāna, i.e. the dispelling, putting away or giving
up of mental defilements:
1. Tadaṅga-pahāna: the temporary dispelling of the defilements by substitution of the
opposite
2. Vikkhambhana-pahāna: the temporary dispelling by suppression in the jhānas
3. Samuccheda-pahāna: the eradication of defilements effected at the moment of attaining the
paths (magga) of emancipation (sotāpatti-magga, etc.)
4. Paṭippassaddhi-pahāna: the tranquillisation of defilements at the fruition-stage (phala) of
emancipation (sotāpatti-phala, etc.)
5. Nissaraṇa-pahāna: the final escape or deliverance from the defilements on attaining
Nibbāna
In order to make clear these five kinds of pahāna, the three periods or stages (bhūmi) must be
mentioned here. They are:
1. Anusaya-bhūmi: the stage of latency, the inherent tendency for defilements
2. Pariyuṭṭhāna-bhūmi: the stage of mental involvement or obsession through the occurrence
of defiled thought processes
3. Vītikkama-bhūmi: the stage of actual transgression in words or deeds.
Of these three, anusaya-bhūmi is the period during which the defilements lie latent surrounding
the life-continuum (bhavaṅga), but have not come into existence as thought processes within the
three phases of time.

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 Pariyuṭṭhāna-bhūmi is the period during which the defilements rise from the latent state and
manifest themselves as thought processes at the mind-doors when any object that has the power
to arouse them produces a perturbation at any of the six doors of perception.
Vītikkama-bhūmi is the period at which the defilements become so fierce and ungovernable
that they produce evil actions in deed and word. Thus, during repeated existences without
known beginning, every occurrence of greed that goes along with a being’s life-continuum has
these three periods. Similarly, all other defilements, like hate, ignorance, conceit, etc., have three
periods each.
There are three kinds of training (sikkhā) in Buddhism, namely: the training of morality (sīla),
in concentration (samādhi), and in wisdom (paññā). The training in morality is able to dispel only
the third stage of the defilements, that of actual transgression. As there remain two stages
undispelled, the defilements temporarily put away by morality can arise again and soon fill up
until they reach the stage of transgression.
The second training, in concentration, through attaining the first jhāna, the second jhāna, and
so forth, is able to dispel only the second stage of the defilements left undispelled by morality,
that is, the mental involvement by evil thought process. As the stage of latency is still
undispelled, if obstacles to jhāna were encountered, the defilements temporarily put away by
jhāna would soon arise and grow until they reach the stage of transgression. Therefore the
dispelling by concentration is called vikkhambhana-pahāna, which means the putting away to a
distance by suppression. Here jhāna can dispose of the defilements for a considerable time so
that they do not arise soon again, for meditation is more powerful in combating the defilements
than morality.
The third training, the training in wisdom—the knowledge that belongs to insight and the
knowledge that pertains to the supramundane path—is able to dispel the first, latent stage of the
defilements left undispelled by morality and concentration. The defilements that are entirely got
rid of through wisdom, leaving nothing behind, will never rise again. Therefore the putting
away by wisdom that has reached the supramundane paths of stream-entry, etc., is called
dispelling by eradication (samuccheda-pahāna). The knowledge that pertains to supramundane
fruition puts the defilements away by tranquillising the same defilements that have been put
away by the knowledge that pertains to the supramundane path, this putting away is called the
paṭippassaddhi-pahāna. The putting away by entering Nibbāna is called the nissaraṇa-pahāna, the
utter escape from the ties of existence forever.
Now, we have seen that knowledge is of three kinds: knowledge of insight, knowledge
pertaining to the supramundane path, and knowledge pertaining to supramundane fruition. Of
these, though the knowledge of insight is able to put away the first, latent stage of the
defilements (anusaya-bhūmi), it is not able to put it away completely. Only the knowledges
pertaining to the paths are able to put away all the defilements that respectively belong to each
path. The knowledge pertaining to sotāpatti-magga, the first path, utterly dispels and eradicates
all erroneous views and perplexities. It also finally dispels all immoral actions that could result
in rebirth in the realms of misery. The knowledge pertaining to sakadāgāmi-magga, the second
path, dispels all coarse lust and hate. The knowledge pertaining to anāgāmi-magga, the third
path, dispels all subtle lust and ill-will, left undispelled by the second path. To the anāgāmi or
never-returner, the link of kinship with this world is broken, and the Brahmā world is the only
sphere where he may take rebirth. The knowledge pertaining to arahatta-magga, the fourth path,
dispels the defilements which were left undispelled by the lower paths. One who kills all
defilements becomes an Arahat and escapes from the three worlds. In our Buddhist religion, the
dispelling by eradication is the chief thing to be accomplished.

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 So much for the pahāna-pariññā.

The Practice of Insight Meditation

I will now indicate the main points necessary to those who practise the exercises of insight. Of
the three knowledges of insight, the knowledge of impermanence must first and foremost be
acquired. How? If we carefully watch the cinematograph show, we will see how quick are the
changes of the numerous series of photographs representing the wonderful scene, all in a
moment of time. We will also see that a hundred or more photographs are required to represent
the scene of a moving body. These are, in fact, the functions of viparināma and aññathābhāva, or
the representation of impermanence or death, or cessation of movements. If we carefully
examine the movements in a scene, such as the walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, bending,
stretching, and so forth, of the parts of the body during a moment of time, we will see that these
are full of changes, or full of impermanence. Even in a moment of walking, in a single step, there
are numerous changes of pictures which may be called impermanence or death. It is also the
same with the rest of the movements. Now, we must apply this to ourselves. The impermanence
and the death of mental and material phenomena are to be found to the full in our bodies, our
heads, and in every part of the body. If we are able to discern clearly those functions of
impermanence and death which are always operating in our bodies, we shall acquire the insight
of the destruction (bhaṅga-ñāṇa), into the breaking-up, falling-off, cessation, and changes of the
various parts of the body in each second, in each fraction of a second. That is, we shall discern
the changes of every part of the body, small and great, of head, of legs, of hands, and so forth. If
this be thus discerned, then it may be said that the exercise on the contemplation of
impermanence is well accomplished. And if the exercise on the contemplation of impermanence
is well accomplished, then that of the contemplation of non-soul is also accomplished. If this is
thus discerned, then it may be said that the exercise on the contemplation of impermanence is
well accomplished. By the word “accomplished,” it is meant that the exercise has been properly
worked out so as to remain a permanent possession, during the whole term of life; but it is not
meant that the knowledge of the path and of fruition has been attained. The attainment of the
knowledge of the path and fruition, however, is quick or slow, according to opportunity or lack
of opportunity in the practice of higher virtues.
It is also very difficult to become correctly aware of the attainment of the paths and of the
fruits. In fact, even the ariya who has attained the first path hardly knows that he has become an
attainer of the stream-of-the-path. Why? Because of the unfathomableness of the latent stage of
the defilements. Those yogis or meditators who do not know the unfathomableness of the latent
stage of the defilements, sometimes think themselves to be attainers of the stream-of-the-path
while as yet their erroneous views and perplexity are only partially, but not completely, put
away. If error and perplexity, with all their latent states, are eradicated by the samuccheda-
pahāna, they would become the real attainers of the stream-of-the-path. The meditators or
practisers of insight, however, for the whole term of life, must gladly continue in the exercise on
the contemplation of impermanence until the exercise is systematically worked out. Even the
Arahants do not give up these exercises for the securing of tranquillity of mind. If meditators
practise these exercises for the whole term of life, their knowledge will be developed till they
pass beyond the puthujjana-bhūmi, the stage of the worldling, and arrive at the ariya-bhūmi, the
stage of the noble ones, either before death or at the time of death, either in this life or in the life
following, in which latter case they will be reborn as devas.

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 Conclusion
Here the concise Vipassanā Dīpanī, The Manual of Insight, written for the Buddhists of Europe,
comes to a close. It was written in Mandalay, while I was sojourning in the Ratanasiri
Monastery, where the annual meeting of the Society for Propagating Buddhism in Foreign
Countries took place; and it was finished on the 14th waxing of Taboung in the year 2458 B.E.,
corresponding to the 26th February, 1915 C. E.

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 A Life Sketch of the Venerable Ledi Sayādaw
The author of this manual, the Venerable Ledi Sayādaw of Burma, was one of the outstanding
Buddhist scholars and writers of this age. His numerous writings show not only his vast store of
learning, of which he had a ready command, but also a deep penetration of the respective
subjects derived from his meditative experience. During a long period of his later life he used to
spend six months of the year teaching, preaching, and writing, and the other six months
meditating.
He was born in 1846 at a village in the Shwebo District of Burma. Early in life he was
ordained a novice (sāmaṇera) and at the age of twenty he received the higher ordination with the
name Bhikkhu Ñāṇa. He received his monastic education under various teachers and later
studied Buddhist literature under the Venerable San-kyaung Sayādaw in one of the large
monastic colleges at Mandalay. He was a very bright student. His first book, Pāramī Dīpanī
(Manual of the Perfections) was published fourteen years after his higher ordination while he was
still at San-kyaung Monastery. It was based on twenty questions set by his teacher, which he
alone among the numerous pupils had been able to answer fully and satisfactorily.
During the reign of King Theebaw he became a Pali lecturer at Mahā Jotikārāma Monastery in
Mandalay. One year after the capture of King Theebaw, in 1887, he moved to a place to the
north of Monywa town where he established a monastery under the name of Ledi-tawya
Monastery, from which he derived the name Ledi Sayādaw under which he became widely
known. In later years, he regularly toured many parts of Burma, teaching and preaching, and
establishing Abhidhamma classes and meditation centres. He composed Abhidhamma rhymes
(abhidhamma-saṅkhitta) and taught them to his Abhidhamma classes. Some of the Ledi
meditation centres still exist and are still famous in the country.
He was awarded the title Agga-Mahāpaṇḍita by the Government of India in 1911. Later the
University of Rangoon conferred on him the title D. Litt. (honoris causa). In later years he lived at
Pyinma where he died in 1923, aged 77.
The Venerable Ledi Sayādaw wrote many essays, letters, poems and manuals, in Burmese
and in Pali, and also some sub-commentaries (ṭīkā). A list of his writings has been published in
the Buddhist quarterly, “Light of the Dhamma” (Vol. VIII, No. 1), 10 together with a biography on
which this brief life sketch is based. Most of his expositions are called dīpanī (“manuals” or lit.
“illuminators”), and became very popular in Burma. Some of these are short treatises; others are
larger works, as for instance the Paramattha Dīpanī, The Manual of Ultimate Truth, written in 1897,
which is a commentary on the Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha, a compendium of the Abhidhamma
Philosophy.
Several of these manuals seven have been rendered into English and published or reprinted
in the magazine “Light of the Dhamma”: (1) Vipassanā Dīpanī—Manual of Insight, (2)
Paṭṭhānuddesa Dīpanī—Manual of the Philosophy of Relations, (3) Niyāma Dīpanī—Manual of Cosmic
Order, (4) Sammā-diṭṭhi Dīpanī—Manual of Right Understanding, (5) Catusacca Dīpanī—Manual of
the Four Truths, (6) Bodhipakkhiya Dīpanī—Manual of the Requisites of Enlightenment, (7) Maggaṅga
Dīpanī—Manual of the Constituents of the Noble Path.
The “Light of the Dhamma” has ceased publication, however, the manuals have been
reprinted in a single volume under the title Manuals of Buddhism published by the
aforementioned Council in Rangoon and by the Vipassanā Research Institute in Igatpuri, India.
10
Published by the Union of Burma Buddha Sāsana Council, Kaba Aye P.O., Rangoon, Burma. An
extensive list is also given in the B.P.S. translation of the Vijjāmagga Dīpanī.

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 The BPS has published a few other translations. A revised edition of the Manual of the
Requisites of Enlightenment has appeared in the Wheel Series as Wheel no. 171/174 (now BP 412),
likewise, the Paṭṭhānuddesa Dīpanī as Wh. 331/333 titled Buddhist Philosophy of Relations, the
Maggaṅga Dīpanī as Wh. 245/247 titled Noble Eightfold Path and its Factors Explained, the
Uttamapurisa Dīpanī as BP 420 titled Manual of the Excellent Man, and the Ānāpāna Dīpanī as Wh.
431/432 titled A Manual of Mindfulness of Breathing.
Translations of the Manual of Light (Alinkyan) and the Manual of the Path of Higher
Knowledge (Vijjāmagga Dīpanī) are forthcoming from the BPS.
A few more translations of Ledi Sayādaw manuals on vegetarianism, abstinence from liquor,
and monks' etiquette can be found on http://www.aimwell.org.

46
 The Buddhist Publication Society

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