Questions about Abhidhamma

Discussion of Abhidhamma and related Commentaries
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DooDoot
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Questions about Abhidhamma

Post by DooDoot »

Dear Abhdihamma expert/s

I thought to start this thread about whatever more simple Abhidhamma questions come to mind.

1st question:

1. The Suttas (eg. MN 9) refer to the roots (mūla) of the unwholesome. Does Abhidhamma use the term "hetu" here, synonymously with "mūla"?

:thanks:
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retrofuturist
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Re: Questions about Abhidhamma

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings DooDoot,

I don't know the answer to this question off the top of my head, but the first place I'd go looking to find out is...

The Roots Of Good And Evil by Nyanaponika Thera (PDF)

Especially from page 112.

:reading:

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
SarathW
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Re: Questions about Abhidhamma

Post by SarathW »

hetu: 'cause', condition, reason; (Abhidhamma) root-condition. In sutta usage it is almost synonymous with paccaya, 'condition', and often occurs together with it ('What is the cause, what is the condition', ko hetu ko paccayo).

In Abhidhamma, it denotes the wholesome and unwholesome roots (múla, q.v.). In that sense, as 'root-condition' (hetu-paccaya; s. paccaya), it is the first of the 24 conditions given in the introduction to the Patthána (s. Guide, p. 117). The Dhs (1052-1082) and Patthána (Duka-patth; Guide, p. 144) have sections on roots (hetu). - The term is also used (a) for the classification of consciousness, as sa-hetuka and a-hetuka, with and without concomitant root-conditions; (b) for a division of rebirth consciousness into ahetuka, dvihetuka and tihetuka, without, with 2, or with 3 root-conditions (s. patisandhi).
https://www.urbandharma.org/udharma2/di ... /bd11.html
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DooDoot
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Re: Questions about Abhidhamma

Post by DooDoot »

SarathW wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 1:44 am
hetu: 'cause', condition, reason; (Abhidhamma) root-condition. In sutta usage it is almost synonymous with paccaya, 'condition', and often occurs together with it ('What is the cause, what is the condition', ko hetu ko paccayo).
Hetu is not synonymous with paccaya in sutta usage, such as AN 10.61, where hetu cannot be use instead of paccaya.
SarathW wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 1:44 amIn Abhidhamma, it denotes the wholesome and unwholesome roots (múla, q.v.).
OK. thanks :thanks: :bow:
SarathW wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 1:44 amIn that sense, as 'root-condition' (hetu-paccaya; s. paccaya),
Abhidhamma says form is without hetu but has paccaya.
sabbaṁ rūpaṁ na hetu, ahetukaṁ, hetuvippayuttaṁ, sappaccayaṁ, saṅkhataṁ

All form is not root. Is not accompanied by root. Is not associated with root. Is with cause. Is conditioned.

https://suttacentral.net/vb1/en/thittila
:alien:
SarathW wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 1:44 am
it is the first of the 24 conditions given in the introduction to the Patthána (s. Guide, p. 117). The Dhs (1052-1082) and Patthána (Duka-patth; Guide, p. 144) have sections on roots (hetu). -
:reading:
SarathW wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 1:44 am
The term is also used (a) for the classification of consciousness, as sa-hetuka and a-hetuka, with and without concomitant root-conditions;
Vibhanga 1
SarathW wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 1:44 am
(b) for a division of rebirth consciousness into ahetuka, dvihetuka and tihetuka, without, with 2, or with 3 root-conditions (s. patisandhi).
Where is the above found in the Abhidhamma? :shrug: :thanks:
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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SarathW
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Re: Questions about Abhidhamma

Post by SarathW »

Dear Abhdihamma expert/s
Very soon you will be the Abhidhamma expert in this forum!
:twothumbsup: :D
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DooDoot
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Re: Questions about Abhidhamma

Post by DooDoot »

SarathW wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 3:58 am Very soon you will be the Abhidhamma expert in this forum!
Thank you however the item below appears to be from commentary ( Abhidhammattha-saṅgaha) rather than from Abhidhamma and appears to be more Buddhaghosa ideas: :smile:
(b) for a division of rebirth consciousness into ahetuka, dvihetuka and tihetuka, without, with 2, or with 3 root-conditions (s. patisandhi).
The Abhidhammattha-saṅgaha is a Pali Buddhist instructional manual or compendium of the Abhidhamma of the Theravāda tradition. It was written by the Sri Lankan monk Ācariya Anuruddha some time between the 8th century and the 12th century. Wikipedia
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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