Kalapa or rupa-kalapa (from Sanskrit rūpa "form, phenomenon" and kalāpa "bundle") is a term in Theravada Buddhist phenomenology for the smallest units of physical matter, said to be about 1/46,656th the size of a particle of dust from a wheel of chariot. [1] Kalapas are not mentioned in the earliest Buddhists texts, such as the Tripitaka, but only in the Abhidhammattha-sangaha, an Abhidhamma commentary dated to the 11th or 12th century, and as such not part of common Theravada doctrine. [2]
According to the description found in the Abhidhammattha-sangaha, Kalapas are said to be invisible under normal circumstances but visible as a result of meditative samadhi. [3] Kalapas are composed of eight inseparable elements of material essence in varying amounts which are: [4] Pathavi ( earth), Apo ( water), Tejo ( fire), Vayo ( air), Vanna ( color), Gandha ( smell), Rasa ( taste), and Oja (nutrition). The first four elements are called primary qualities, and are predominant in kalapas. The other four are secondary properties that derive from the primaries. [5] The primary qualities are akin to the system of classical elements in Ancient Greece. Certain kalapas are said to also include additional elements, including sound, sex, body, mind-base and life. [6] [7]
In contemporary Buddhist meditation practice, the observation and analysis of kalapas is a type of vipassana practice that aims to allow direct observation of impermanence and non-self. [8] [9] Contemporary adherents of practices related to the observation and analysis of kalapas include U Ba Khin, S.N. Goenka and the Pa Auk Sayadaw. [10] [11] [12] [13] Mahasi Sayadaw in the 1980s expressed a belief that kalapas played a role in aging, death and rebirth. [14]
See also
References
- ^ Kornfield, Jack (1977, 1996), Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters, Shambhala p.316
- ^ Abhidhammattha-sangaha, Britannica Online (1998, 2005).
- ^ Shankman, Richard (2008), The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation, Shambhala, p. 178
- ^ Anuruddhàcariya, Bhadanta, trans. By Thera, Nàrada Mahà (1979) A Manual of Abhidhamma: Abhidhammattha Saïgaha of Bhadanta Anuruddhàcariya Buddhist Missionary Society, p.320
- ^ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Mendis, N.K.G. (2006-2011), The Abhidhamma in Practice The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.267
- ^ Rasmussen, Tina and Snyder, Stephen (2009) Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration as Presented by Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, Shambhala p.127
- ^ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Goenka, S.N. (2000) The Discourse Summaries, Vipassana Research Publications, p. 131
- ^ Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.125
- ^ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Shankman, Richard (2008). The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation. Shambhala. p. 177. ISBN 9780834824010.
- ^ "Sayadaw, Mahasi (March 1982) PATICCASAMUPPADA, Buddhasasana Nuggaha Organization". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- Noa Ronkin, Early Buddhist Metaphysics: The Making of a Philosophical Tradition (2005), 58f.
External links
Kalapa or rupa-kalapa (from Sanskrit rūpa "form, phenomenon" and kalāpa "bundle") is a term in Theravada Buddhist phenomenology for the smallest units of physical matter, said to be about 1/46,656th the size of a particle of dust from a wheel of chariot. [1] Kalapas are not mentioned in the earliest Buddhists texts, such as the Tripitaka, but only in the Abhidhammattha-sangaha, an Abhidhamma commentary dated to the 11th or 12th century, and as such not part of common Theravada doctrine. [2]
According to the description found in the Abhidhammattha-sangaha, Kalapas are said to be invisible under normal circumstances but visible as a result of meditative samadhi. [3] Kalapas are composed of eight inseparable elements of material essence in varying amounts which are: [4] Pathavi ( earth), Apo ( water), Tejo ( fire), Vayo ( air), Vanna ( color), Gandha ( smell), Rasa ( taste), and Oja (nutrition). The first four elements are called primary qualities, and are predominant in kalapas. The other four are secondary properties that derive from the primaries. [5] The primary qualities are akin to the system of classical elements in Ancient Greece. Certain kalapas are said to also include additional elements, including sound, sex, body, mind-base and life. [6] [7]
In contemporary Buddhist meditation practice, the observation and analysis of kalapas is a type of vipassana practice that aims to allow direct observation of impermanence and non-self. [8] [9] Contemporary adherents of practices related to the observation and analysis of kalapas include U Ba Khin, S.N. Goenka and the Pa Auk Sayadaw. [10] [11] [12] [13] Mahasi Sayadaw in the 1980s expressed a belief that kalapas played a role in aging, death and rebirth. [14]
See also
References
- ^ Kornfield, Jack (1977, 1996), Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters, Shambhala p.316
- ^ Abhidhammattha-sangaha, Britannica Online (1998, 2005).
- ^ Shankman, Richard (2008), The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation, Shambhala, p. 178
- ^ Anuruddhàcariya, Bhadanta, trans. By Thera, Nàrada Mahà (1979) A Manual of Abhidhamma: Abhidhammattha Saïgaha of Bhadanta Anuruddhàcariya Buddhist Missionary Society, p.320
- ^ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Mendis, N.K.G. (2006-2011), The Abhidhamma in Practice The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.267
- ^ Rasmussen, Tina and Snyder, Stephen (2009) Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration as Presented by Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, Shambhala p.127
- ^ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Goenka, S.N. (2000) The Discourse Summaries, Vipassana Research Publications, p. 131
- ^ Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.125
- ^ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
- ^ Shankman, Richard (2008). The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation. Shambhala. p. 177. ISBN 9780834824010.
- ^ "Sayadaw, Mahasi (March 1982) PATICCASAMUPPADA, Buddhasasana Nuggaha Organization". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- Noa Ronkin, Early Buddhist Metaphysics: The Making of a Philosophical Tradition (2005), 58f.