daverupa wrote:For example vedana, sanna, and vinnana occur at the same time
I wonder if it makes reference to this:
MN 43 wrote:For what one feels, that one perceives. What one perceives, that one cognizes. Therefore these qualities are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is not possible, having separated them one from another, to delineate the difference among them."
The Pali term "akāliko" seems to support the non-temporal discussion.
Correct. Moreover, for those who believe in Abhidhammatthasaṅgaho, during every state of citta there are 7 universal cetasikas (
sabbacittasādhāraṇā) which are part of 5 Khandhas.
Also, avijjā (1) being mental thing cannot occur without mind (consciousness 3, nāma 4).
Avijjā is also included in Saṅkhāra (2).
Consciousness (3) cannot exist by itself, it requires other 3 mental aggregates (saṅkhāra 2, nāma 4) and for 5 senses - body (rūpa 4, birth 11 & death 12).
rūpa 4 occurs as five of six sense bases (5) during birth 11 and it dies 12.
Contact (6) cannot occur without nāma/rūpa 4 and can occur only when six bases (5) are present
Body 11 that is born is not separate from rūpa as part of nāmarūpa 4.
etc etc.
All factors of D.O. are either included in nāma or rūpa. Only few factors could be separated by LONG time, ex: avijjā and resultant dukkha, birth and death.
But we could say that "birth" of new implies the death of old, so even here there is a way how these are nearly simultaneous.