• Compendium of States or Phenomena
  • 2.2. Material Form (rūpa kaṇḍaṃ)

2.2.3.

[Material] Form under a Single Aspect (ekakaniddeso)

All form is that which is

  • not root condition,
  • not the concomitant of a root condition,
  • disconnected with root-condition,
  • causally related,
  • conditioned,
  • endowed with form,
  • mundane,

co-intoxicant,

  • of the Fetters,
  • of the Ties,
  • of the Floods,
  • of the Bonds,
  • of the Hindrances;
  • infected,
  • of the Graspings,
  • belonging to the Vices,
  • indeterminate,
  • void of mental objects,
  • not a mental property,
  • disconnected with thought,
  • neither moral result nor productive of it,
  • not vicious yet belonging to the Vices,
  • not applied and sustained thinking,
  • not “applied, but only sustained thinking”,
  • neither “applied nor sustained thinking”,
  • not “accompanied by zest”,
  • not “accompanied by ease”,
  • not “accompanied by indifference”,
  • not something capable of being got rid of either by insight or by cultivation,
  • not that the cause of which may be got rid of either by insight or by cultivation,
  • neither tending to, nor away from, the accumulation involving rebirth.
  • belonging neither to studentship nor to that which is beyond studentship,
  • of small account,
  • related to the universe of sense,
  • not related to the universe of form,
  • nor to that of the formless,
  • included,
  • not of the Unincluded,
  • not [something entailing] fixed [retribution],
  • unavailing for (ethical) guidance,
  • apparent,
  • cognizable by the six modes of cognition,
  • impermanent,
  • subject to decay.

Such is the category of Form considered by way of single attributes.

[Material] Form under a Dual Aspect—positive and negative (duvidhena rūpa-sangaho)

“There is [material] form which is derived”.

What is that [material] form which is derived?

The sphere of

  • vision,
  • hearing,
  • smell,
  • taste,
  • body-sensibility;

the sphere of

  • sights,
  • sounds,
  • odours,
  • tastes;
  • woman-faculty,
  • man-faculty,
  • life-faculty;
  • intimation by act,
  • intimation by speech;
  • the element of space;
  • buoyancy,
  • plasticity,
  • wieldiness,
  • integration,
  • maintenance,
  • decay,
  • impermanence,

of form,

  • solid nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of vision (cakkhāyatanaṃ)?

The eye, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the Great Phenomena, included in the self-state, nature of the self, invisible and reacting—by which eye, invisible and reacting, one has seen, sees, will, or may see material shape that is visible and reacting—this that is sight, the sphere of eight, the element of vision, the faculty of vision, [this that is] “the world”, “a door”, “an ocean”, “lucent”, “a field”, “[physical] basis”, “a guide”, “guidance”, the “hither shore”, an “empty village”—this is that [material] shape which constitutes the sphere of vision.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of vision?

The eye, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the four Great Phenomena, included in the self-state, invisible and reacting, and against which eye, invisible and reacting, [material] shape that is visible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge—this that is sight, the sphere of sight, the constituent element of sight, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs597">§ 597].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of vision?

The eye, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the four Great Phenomena, included in the self-state, invisible and reacting, which eye, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on [material] shape that is visible and impingeing—this that is sight, the sphere of sight, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs597">§ 597].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of vision?

The eye, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the four Great Phenomena, included in the self-state, invisible and reacting, (i) depending on which eye, in consequence of some [visible] shape, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • visual contact; …

(ii) and depending on which eye, in consequence of some [visible] shape, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise—born of that visual contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or (iii)] a perception …
  • [or (iv)] volition …
  • [or (v)] a visual cognition …

[further, (vi)] depending on which eye, and having a [visible] shape as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • visual contact,

(vii) and depending on which eye, and having a visible form as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise, born of that visual contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or (viii)] a perception …
  • [or (ix)] volition …
  • [or (x)] a visual cognition—

this that is sight, the sphere of sight, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs597">§ 597].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of hearing?

The ear, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the four Great Phenomena, forming part of the nature of the self, invisible and reacting,

  1. by which ear, invisible and reacting, one has heard, hears, will, or may hear sound that is invisible and reacting;
  2. against which ear, invisible and reacting, sound that is invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge;
  3. which ear, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on sound that is invisible and reacting;
  4. depending on which ear, in consequence of a sound, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise
    • auditory contact; …

    and, depending on which ear, in consequence of a sound, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise, born of that auditory contact,

    • a feeling …
    • [or] a perception …
    • [or] volition …
    • [or] auditory cognition;

    [further] depending on which ear, and having a sound as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

    • auditory contact,

    and, depending on which ear, and having a sound as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise, born of that auditory contact,

    • a feeling …
    • [or] a perception …
    • [or] volition …
    • [or] auditory cognition;

    this that is hearing, the sphere of hearing, the constituent element of hearing, the faculty of hearing, this that is “the world”, “a door”, “an ocean”, “lucent”, “a field”, “a basis”, “the hither shore”, “an empty village”—this is that [material] form which is the sphere of hearing.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of smell?

The nose, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the four Great Phenomena, forming part of the nature of the self, invisible and reacting,

  1. by which nose, invisible and reacting, one has smelt, smells, will, or may smell odour that is invisible and reacting;
  2. against which nose, invisible and reacting, odour that is invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge;
  3. which nose, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on odour that is invisible and reacting;
  4. depending on which nose, in consequence of an odour … depending on which nose, and having an odour as its object, there has arisen,arises, will, or may arise
    • olfactory contact,

    and, depending on which nose, in consequence of an odour … depending on which nose, and having an odour as its object, there has arisen, arises, will or may arise, born of that olfactory contact,

    • a feeling …
    • [or] a perception …
    • [or] volition …
    • [or] olfactory cognition;

    this that is smell, the sphere, the constituent element, the faculty, of smell, this that is “the world”, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs604">§ 604].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of taste?

The tongue, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the four Great Phenomena, included in the self-state, invisible and reacting;

  1. by which tongue, invisible and reacting, one has tasted, tastes, will, or may taste sapids that are invisible and reacting;
  2. against which tongue, invisible and reacting, sapids that are invisible and reacting, have impinged, impinge, will, or may impinge;
  3. which tongue, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on sapids that are invisible and reacting;
  4. depending on which tongue, in consequence of a sapid … depending on which tongue, and having a sapid as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise
    • gustatory contact,

    and depending on which tongue, in consequence of a sapid … depending on which tongue, and having a sapid as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise, born of that gustatory contact,

    • a feeling …
    • [or] a perception …
    • [or] volition …
    • [or] gustatory cognition;

    this that is taste, the sphere, the constituent element, the faculty of taste, this that is “the world”, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs604">§ 604].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of body[-sensibility]?

The body, that is to say the sentient organ, derived from the four Great Phenomena, included in the self-state, invisible and reacting;

  1. by which body-sensibility, invisible and reacting, one has touched, touches, will, or may touch the tangible that is invisible and reacting;
  2. against which body-sensibility, invisible and reacting, the tangible, which is invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge;
  3. which body-sensibility, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on the tangible that is invisible and reacting;
  4. depending on which body-sensibility, in consequence of something tangible … depending on which body-sensibility, and having something tangible as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise
    • tactile contact,

    and depending on which body-sensibility, in consequence of something tangible … depending on which body-sensibility, and having something tangible as its object, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise, born of that tactile contact,

    • a feeling …
    • [or] a perception …
    • [or] volition …
    • [or] tactile cognition;

    this that is body-sensibility, the sphere, constituent element, faculty of body-sensibility, this that is “the world”, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs604">§ 604].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of [visible] shape?

The [material] form which, derived from the great principles, is visible under the appearance of colour and reacting—is blue, yellow, red, white, black, crimson, bronze, green-coloured, of the hue of the mango-bud; is long, short, big, little, circular, oval, square, hexagonal, octagonal, hekkaidecagonal; low, high, shady, glowing, light, dim, dull, frosty, smoky, dusty; like in colour to the disc of moon, sun, stars, a mirror, a gem, a shell, a pearl, a cat's eye, gold or silver; or whatever other shape there is which, derived from the four Great Phenomena, is visible and reacting—shape which, visible and reacting, one has seen, sees, will, or may see with the eye that is invisible and reacting—this which is visible shape, this which is the sphere of visible shape, the constituent element of visible shape—this is that form which is the sphere of visible shape.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of visible shape?

That [material] form which, derived from the Great Phenomena, is visible under the appearance of colour and reacting … on which shape, visible and reacting, the eye, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge—this that is visible shape, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs617">§ 617].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of visible shape?

That [material] form which, derived from the Great Phenomena, is visible under the appearance of colour and produces impact—which form, visible and producing impact, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on the eye that is invisible and reacting—this which is visible form, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs617">§ 617].

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of visible shape?

That [material] form which, derived from the four Great Phenomena, is visible and produces impact—in consequence of which form, and depending on the eye, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • visual contact …

in consequence of which form and depending on the eye, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise, born of that visual contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] visual cognition;

[further] having which visible shape as its object, and depending on the eye there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • visual contact …

and, having which visible shape as its object, and depending on the eye, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] visual cognition;

this which is visible shape, the sphere, the constituent element of visible shape—this is that [material] form which is the sphere of visible shape.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of sound?

That sound which is derived from the four Great Phenomena, is invisible and reacting, such as the sound of drums, of tabors, of chank-shells, of tom-toms, of singing, of music; clashing sounds, manual sounds, the noise of people, the sound of the concussion of substances, of wind, of water, sounds human and other than human, or whatever other sound there is, derived from the Great Phenomena, invisible and reacting—such a sound, invisible and reacting, as, by the ear, invisible and reacting, one has heard, hears, will, or may hear …

… and on which sound, invisible and reacting, the ear, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge …

… which sound, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on the ear that is invisible and reacting …

… in consequence of which sound and depending on the ear, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • auditory contact …

… and … born of that auditory contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] auditory cognition;

… [further] having a sound as its object and depending on the ear, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise,

  • auditory contact,

… and … born of that auditory contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] auditory cognition;

this that is sound, the sphere and constituent element of sound—this is that form which is the sphere of sound.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of odour?

That odour which is derived from the four Great Phenomena, is invisible and produces impact, such as the odour of roots, sap, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit; verminous odours, putrid odours, pleasant and unpleasant odours, or whatever other odour there is, derived from the four Great Phenomena, invisible and reacting; such an odour, invisible and reacting, as one has smelt, smells, will, or may smell with the nose, that is invisible and reacting …

… on which odour, invisible and reacting, the nose, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge …

… such an odour, invisible and reacting, as has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on the nose, invisible and reacting …

… in consequence of which odour and depending on the nose, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • olfactory contact …

and … born of that olfactory contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] olfactory cognition;

… [further] having an odour as its object and depending on the nose, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • olfactory contact …

… and … born of that olfactory contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] olfactory cognition;

this that is odour, the sphere and constituent element of odour—this is that [material] form which is the sphere of odours.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of taste?

That taste which is derived from the four Great Phenomena, is invisible and reacting, such as the taste of roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, of sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, saline, alkaline, acrid, astringent, nice and nauseous sapids, or whatever other taste there is, derived from the four Great Phenomena, invisible and reacting—such tastes, invisible and reacting, as with the tongue, invisible and reacting, one has tasted, tastes, will, or may taste …

… against which taste, invisible and reacting, the tongue, invisible and impingeing, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge …

… a taste which, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge on the tongue, invisible and reacting …

… in consequence of which taste and depending on the tongue, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • gustatory contact …

… and, … born of that gustatory contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] gustatory cognition,

[further] having a taste as its object and depending on the tongue, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • gustatory contact …

… and … born of that gustatory contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] gustatory cognition,

this that is taste, the sphere and constituent element of taste—this is that form which is the sphere of taste.

What is that [material] form which is woman-faculty (itthindriyaṃ)?

That which is of the female, feminine in appearance, feminine in characteristics, in occupation, in deportment, feminine in condition and being—this is that [material] form which constitutes woman-faculty.

What is that form which is man-faculty (purisindriyaṃ)?

That which is of the male, masculine in appearance, masculine in characteristics, in occupation, in deportment, masculine in condition and being—this is that form which constitutes man-faculty.

What is that [material] form which is life-faculty (jīvitindriyaṃ)?

The persistence of these corporeal states, their subsistence, their going on, their being kept going on, their progress, continuance, preservation, life, life as faculty—this is that [material] form which is life-faculty.

What is that [material] form which is bodily intimation (kāyaviññatti)?

That tension, that intentness, that state of making the body tense, in response to a thought, whether good, bad, or indeterminate, on the part of one who advances, or recedes, or fixes the gaze, or glances around, or retracts an arm, or stretches it forth—the intimation, the making known, the state of having made known—this is that [material] form which constitutes bodily intimation.

What is that [material] form which is intimation by language (vaciviññatti)?

That speech, voice, enunciation, utterance, noise, making noises, language as articulate speech, which expresses a thought whether good, bad, or indeterminate—this is called language. And that intimation, that making known, the state of having made known by language—this is that [material] form which constitutes intimation by language.

What is that [material] form which is the element of space (ākāsa-dhātu)?

That which is space and belongs to space, is sky and belongs to sky, is vacuum and belongs to vacuum, and is not in contact with the four Great Phenomena—this is that form which is the element of space.

What is lightness of [material] form (rūpassa lahutā)?

That lightness of form which is its capacity for changing easily, its freedom from sluggishness and inertia—this is lightness of [material] form.

What is plasticity of [material] form?

That plasticity of form which is softness, smoothness, non-rigidity—this is plasticity of [material] form.

What is wieldiness of [material] form?

That which is its serviceableness, its workable condition—this is wieldiness of [material] form.

What is integration (upacayo) of [material] form?

That which is accumulation of form is [also] integration of [material] form—this is integration of [material] form.

What is subsistence of [material] form (rūpassa santati)?

That which is integration of form is the subsistence of form. This is subsistence of [material] form.

What is decay of [material] form (rūpassa jaratā)?

That decay of form which is ageing, decrepitude, hoariness, wrinkles, the shrinkage in length of days, the hypermaturity of faculties—this is decay of [material] form.

What is impermanence of [material] form (rūpassa aniccatā)?

The destruction, disease, breaking-up, dissolution of form, the impermanence which is decline—this is impermanence of form.

What is bodily (solid) nutriment (kabaḷinkāro āhāro)?

Boiled rice, sour gruel, flour, fish, flesh, milk, curds, butter, cheese, tila-oil, cane-syrup, or whatever else there is in whatever region that by living beings may be eaten, chewed, swallowed, digested into the juice, by which living beings are kept alive—this is bodily nutriment.

[All] this is [material] form which is derived.

[End of] the Section on Derivatives. First Portion for Recitation in the Division on [material] Form.

There is [material] form which is not derived” (no upāda)

What is that [material] form which is not derived?

The sphere of the tangible, the fluid element—this is that [material] form which is not derived.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of the tangible (phoṭṭhabbāyatanaṃ)?

The earthy (solid) element, the lambent (calorific) element, the gaseous (aerial) element; the hard and the soft; the smooth and the rough; pleasant (easeful) contact, painful contact; the heavy and the light—such a tangible, invisible and reacting, as, with the body-sensibility, invisible and reacting, one has touched, touches, will, or may touch …

… against which tangible, invisible, and reacting, the body-sensibility, invisible and reacting, has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge …

… such a tangible, invisible and reacting, as has impinged, impinges, will, or may impinge against the body-sensibility, invisible and reacting …

… in consequence of which tangible and depending on the body-sensibility, there has arisen, arises, will, or may arise

  • bodily contact …

and … born of that bodily contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] cognition of body …

[further,] having a tangible as its object and depending on the body(-sensibility), there has arisen, arises, will or may arise

  • bodily contact …

and … born of that bodily contact,

  • a feeling …
  • [or] a perception …
  • [or] volition …
  • [or] cognition of body …

this that is the tangible, the sphere and element of the tangible—this is that form which is the sphere of the tangible.

What is that [material] form which is the fluid (aqueous) element (āpodhātu)?

That which is fluid and belongs to fluid, that which is viscid and belongs to viscous, the cohesiveness of form—this is that [material] form which is the fluid element.

[All] this is that form which is not derived.

What is that [material] form which is grasped at (upādiṇṇaṃ)?

The spheres of sight, hearing, smell, taste, body-sensibility, femininity, masculinity, life, or whatever form there exists through karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of visible forms, odours, tastes, or the tangible; the element of space, the fluid element, the integration or the subsistence of [material] form, or bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is grasped at.

What is that [material] form which is not grasped at?

The sphere of sound, bodily and vocal intimation, lightness, plasticity and wieldiness of [material] form, its decay and impermanence, of whatever other [material] form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought, whether it be in the sphere of visible forms, smells, tastes, or the tangible; the element of space or that of fluidity; the integration or the subsistence of [material] form, or bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not grasped at.

What is that form which is both grasped at and favourable to grasping (upādiṇṇ' upādāniyaṃ)?

The spheres of the five senses, femininity, masculinity and life, or whatever other form exists through karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of visible forms, odours, tastes or the tangible, in the elements of space or fluidity, in the integration or the subsistence of form, or in bodily nutriment—this is that form which is both grasped at and favourable to grasping.

What is that [material] form which is not grasped at, but is favourable to grasping (anupādiṇṇ' upādāniyaṃ)?

The sphere of sounds, bodily and vocal intimation, the lightness, plasticity, wieldiness, decay and impermanence of form, or whatever other form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought, whether it be in the sphere of visible shapes, smells, tastes, the tangible, in the element of space or of fluidity, in the integration, or the subsistence of form, or in bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not grasped at but is favourable to grasping.

What is that [material] form which is visible?

The sphere of visible shapes—this is that [material] form which is visible.

What is that [material] form which is invisible?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is invisible.

What is that [material] form which reacts-and-impinges (sappaṭighaṃ)?

The spheres of vision, hearing, smell, taste, body-sensibility; the spheres of visible shapes, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles—this is that [material] form which reacts-and-impinges.

What is that [material] form which does not react-or-impinge?

Femininity … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which does not react-or-impinge.

What is that form which is faculty (indriyaṃ)?

The faculties (or personal potentialities) of vision, hearing, smell, taste, body-sensibility, woman, man, life—this is that form which is faculty.

What is that form which is not faculty?

The spheres of visible form … and bodily nutriment—this is that form which is not faculty.

What is that [material] form which is Great Phenomenon (mahābhūtaṃ)?

The sphere of the tangible and the element of fluidity—this is that [material] form which is Great Phenomenon.

What is that [material] form which is not Great Phenomenon?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not Great Phenomenon.

What is that [material] form which is intimation, (viññatti)?

Bodily and vocal intimation—this is that [material] form which is intimation.

What is that [material] form which is not intimation?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not intimation.

What is that [material] form which is sprung from thought (citta-samuṭṭhānaṃ)?

Bodily and vocal intimation, or whatever other [material] form exists that is born of mind, caused by mind, has its source in mind, whether it be in the sphere of visible shapes, sounds, odours, tastes or tangibles, in the spatial, or the fluid element, in the lightness, plasticity, wieldiness, integration or subsistence of form, or in bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is sprung from mind.

What is that [material] form which is not sprung from mind?

The sphere of the five senses, femininity, masculinity and life, the decay and the impermanence of [material] form, or whatever other [material] form exists that is not born of mind, not caused by mind, does not have its source in mind, whether it be in the sphere of visible forms, sounds, odours, tastes, or tangibles, in the spatial or fluid element, in the lightness, plasticity, wieldiness, integration or subsistence of [material] form, or in bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not sprung from mind.

What is that [material] form which comes into being together with mind (citta-saha-bhū)?

What is that [material] form which does not come into being together with mind?

Answers as in the preceding pair of relatives.

What is that [material] form which is consecutive to mind (citt' ānuparivatti)?

What is that [material] form which is not consecutive to mind?

Answers as in the preceding pair of relatives.

What is that [material] form which belongs to the self (ajjhattikaṃ)?

The spheres of the five senses—this is that [material] form which belongs to the self.

What is that [material] form which is external (to the self—bāhiraṃ)?

The sphere of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is external (to the self).

Which is that [material] form which is gross (oḷārikaṃ)?

The spheres of the five senses and of the five kinds of sense-objects—this is that [material] form which is gross.

Which is that [material] form which is subtle (sukhumaṃ)?

Woman-faculty … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is subtle.

What is that [material] form which is remote (dūre)?

Woman-faculty … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is remote.

What is that [material] form which is near (santike)?

The spheres of the five senses and of the five kinds of sense-objects—this is that [material] form which is near.

Basis (vatthu)

What is that [material] form which is the basis of visual contact (cakkhusamphassassa vatthu)?

The sphere of vision—this is that [material] form which is the basis of visual contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the basis of visual contact?

The sphere of hearing … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is the basis of

  • the feeling …
  • the perception …
  • the volition …
  • the visual cognition

which is born of visual contact?

The sphere of vision—this is that [material] form which is the basis of the … visual cognition which is born of visual contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the basis of the … visual cognition born of visual contact?

The sphere of hearing … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the basis of the … visual cognition born of visual contact.

What is that form which is the basis of

  • auditory …
  • olfactory …
  • gustatory …
  • bodily

contact?

The sphere of … body-sensibility—this is that [material] form which is the basis of … bodily contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the basis of … bodily contact?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the basis of … bodily contact.

What is that [material] form which is the basis of

  • the feeling …
  • the perception …
  • the volition …
  • the … cognition of body

that is born of … bodily contact?

The sphere … of body-sensibility—this is that [material] form which is the basis of the … cognition of body that is born of … bodily contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the basis of the … cognition of body born of … bodily contact?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the basis of the … cognition of body born, etc.

Mental object or idea (ārammaṇaṃ)

What is that [material] form which is the object in visual contact?

The sphere of visible forms—this is that [material] form which is the object in visual contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the object in visual contact?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is the object in

  • the feeling …
  • the perception …
  • the volition …
  • the visual cognition

that is born of visual contact?

The sphere of visible shapes—this is that [material] form which is the object in … the visual cognition that is born of visual contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the object in the … visual cognition born of visual contact?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the object, etc.

What is that [material] form which is the object in

  • auditory …
  • olfactory …
  • gustatory …
  • bodily

contact?

The sphere of … the tangible—this is that [material] form which is the object in … bodily contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the object in … bodily contact?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the object in … bodily contact.

What is that [material] form which is the object in

  • the feeling …
  • the perception …
  • the volition …
  • the … cognition of body

that is born of … bodily contact?

The sphere of the tangible—this is that [material] form which is the object in the … cognition of body that is born of … bodily contact.

What is that [material] form which is not the object in the … cognition of body that is born of bodily contact?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the object, etc.

Sphere of sense (āyatanaṃ)

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of vision?

The eye, that is to say, the sentient organ which is derived from the four Great Phenomena … this that is “an empty village”—this is that [material] form which is the sphere of vision.

What is that [material] form which is not the sphere of vision?

The sphere of hearing … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the sphere of vision.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of

  • hearing …
  • smell …
  • taste …
  • body-sensibility?

The body, that is to say, the sentient organ which is derived from the four Great Phenomena … this that is “an empty village”—this is that [material] form which is the sphere of … body-sensibility.

What is that [material] form which is not the sphere of … body-sensibility?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of visible shapes?

That form which, derived from the four Great Phenomena, is visible under the appearance of colour … this … which is the constituent element of visible form—this is that [material] form which is the sphere of visible forms.

What is that [material] form which is not the sphere of visible shapes?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is the sphere of

  • sound,
  • odour,
  • taste,
  • the tangible?

The earthy (solid) element … this that is the … element of the tangible—this is that [material] form which is the sphere of the tangible.

What is that [material] form which is not the sphere of … the tangible?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not, etc.

Element (dhātu)

What is that [material] form which is the element of vision?

The sphere of vision—this is that [material] form which is the element of vision.

What is that [material] form which is not the element of vision?

The sphere of hearing … and bodily nutriment—this is that [material] form which is not the element of vision.

What is that [material] form which is the element of visible shape?

The sphere of visible shape—this is … the element of visible shape.

What is that [material] form which is not the element of visible shape?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is the element of sound … of odour … of taste … of the tangible?

The sphere of … the tangible—this is … the element of the tangible.

What is that [material] form which is not the element of the tangible?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … not the element of the tangible.

Faculty (indriyaṃ)

What is that [material] form which is the faculty of vision?

The eye, that is to say, the sentient organ which is derived from the four Great Phenomena … this that is “an empty village”—this is … the faculty of vision.

What is that [material] form which is not the faculty of vision?

The sphere of hearing … and bodily nutriment—this is … not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is the faculty of hearing … smell … taste … body-sensibility?

The … body, that is to say, the sentient principle, which is derived from the four Great Phenomena … this that is “an empty village”—this is … the faculty of … body sensibility.

What is that [material] body which is not the faculty of … body-sensibility?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is woman-faculty?

That which is of the female, feminine in appearance, characteristics, occupation, and deportment, feminine in condition and being—this is that form which is woman-faculty.

What is that [material] form which is not woman-faculty?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … not, etc.

What is that [material] form which is man-faculty?

That which is of the male, masculine in appearance, characteristics, occupation, and deportment, masculine in condition and being—this is that form which is man-faculty.

What is that [material] form which is not man-faculty?

Answer as in <a href="#pts-cs713a">§ 713a.

What is that [material] form which is (the faculty of) life?

The persistence of these corporeal states, their subsistence, their going on, their being kept going on, their progress, continuance, preservation, life, life as faculty—this is … (the faculty of) life.

What is that [material] form which is not (the faculty of) life?

Answer as in <a href="#pts-cs713a">§ 713a.

Intimation (viññatti)

What is that [material] form which is bodily intimation?

Answer as in <a href="#pts-cs636">§ 636.

What is that [material] form which is not bodily intimation?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … bodily intimation.

What is that [material] form which is vocal intimation?

Answer as in <a href="#pts-cs637">§ 637.

What is that [material] form which is not vocal intimation?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … not, etc.

Space and fluid

What is that [material] form which is the element of space?

That which is space and belongs to space, is sky, belongs to sky, is vacuum, belongs to vacuum, and is not in contact with the four Great Phenomena—this is … the element of space.

What is that [material] form which is not the element of space?

Answer as <a href="#pts-cs721">§ 721.

What is that [material] form which is the element of fluidity?

That which is fluid and belongs to fluid, that which is viscid and belongs to viscid, the cohesiveness of form—this is … the element of fluidity.

What is that [material] form which is not the element of fluidity?

Answer as in <a href="#pts-cs721">§ 721.

Modes of form

What is that [material] form which is lightness of form?

That lightness of form which is its capacity for changing easily, its freedom from sluggishness and inertia—this is … lightness of form.

What is that [material] form which is not lightness of form?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … not lightness of form.

Questions on the other two modes of form “plasticity” and “wieldiness” are answered by the descriptions given in <a href="#pts-cs640">§§ 640, <a href="#pts-cs641">641. The corresponding contradictory terms are described in the same terms as in <a href="#pts-cs727">§ 727, viz.: as in <a href="#pts-cs596">§ 596, with the omissions and insertion as indicated.

Evolution of (material) form

What is that [material] form which is the integration of form?

That which is accumulation of [material] form is the integration of form—this is, etc.

What is that [material] form which is not the integration of form?

The sphere of vision … and bodily nutriment—this is … not, etc.

Question on the “subsistence”, “decay”, and “impermanence” of form and their contradictories are answered analogously with those in the group on “Modes of form”, the three positives being described as in <a href="#pts-cs642">§§ 642–<a href="#pts-cs645">645.

Nutrition

What is that [material] form which is bodily nutriment?

This is answered as in <a href="#pts-cs646">§ 646.

What is that [material] form which is not bodily nutriment?

The sphere of vision … and the impermanence of form—this is … is not bodily nutriment.

Such are the Categories of [material] Form under Dual Aspects.

[End of] the Exposition of the Pairs.

[Material] Form under a Triple Aspect

Exposition of the Triplets

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and derived?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and derived?
    The sphere of visible shapes … and bodily nutriment.
  3. external and not derived?
    The sphere of the tangible and the fluid element.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and grasped at?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and grasped at?
    Woman-faculty, man-faculty, life, or whatever other [material] form exists through karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of visible shape, odour, taste, or the tangible, in the spatial or the fluid element, in the integration or subsistence of form, or in bodily nutriment.
  3. external and not grasped at?
    The sphere of sound, bodily and vocal intimation, the lightness, plasticity, wieldiness, decay, and impermanence of form, or whatever other [material] form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of visible form, odour, taste, or the tangible, in the spatial or the fluid element, etc. [Continue as in (ii)].

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and both grasped at and favourable to grasping?
  2. external and both grasped at and favourable to grasping?
  3. external and not grasped at, but favourable to grasping?

The answers are identical with those in the preceding triplet, taken in order.

What is that form which is

  1. personal and invisible?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and visible?
    The sphere of visible shape.
  3. external and invisible?
    The sphere of sound … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and reacting?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and reacting?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects.
  3. external and non-reacting?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and a faculty?
    The five faculties of sense.
  2. external and a faculty?
    Sex and vitality.
  3. external and not a faculty?
    The sphere of visible shape … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not one of the Great Phenomena?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and belonging to the Great Phenomena?
    The sphere of the tangible and the fluid element.
  3. external and not one of the Great Phenomena?
    The spheres of the [other four kinds of sense-objects] … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not intimation?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and intimation?
    Bodily and vocal intimation.
  3. external and not intimation?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and sprung from mind?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and sprung from mind?
    Bodily and vocal intimation, or whatever other form exists which is born of mind, caused by mind, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs667">§ 667].
  3. external and not sprung from mind?
    Sex-faculty, life-faculty, the decay and impermanence of form, or whatever other form exists which is not born of mind, caused by mind, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs668">§ 668].

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and does not come into being together with mind?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and comes into being together with mind?
    Bodily and vocal intimation.
  3. external and does not come into being, etc.?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not consecutive to mind?
  2. external and consecutive to mind?
  3. external and not consecutive to mind?

The answers are identical with those in the preceding triplet, taken in order.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and gross?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and gross?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects.
  3. external and subtle?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.

What is that form which is

  1. personal and near?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and remote?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.
  3. external and near?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects.

What is that form which is

  1. external and not the basis of visual contact?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and the basis of visual contact?
    The sphere of vision.
  3. personal and not the basis of visual contact?
    The sphere of the other four senses.

What is that form which is

  1. external and not a basis of
    • the feeling …
    • the perception …
    • the volition …
    • the visual cognition
    that is born of visual contact?
  2. personal and a basis of the feeling … the visual cognition that is born of visual contact?
  3. personal and not a basis of the feeling … the visual cognition that is born of visual contact?

Answers identical with those in the preceding triplet.

What is that form which is

  1. external and not a basis of
    • auditory …
    • olfactory …
    • gustatory …
    • bodily contact?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and a basis of … bodily contact?
    The spheres of the other four senses respectively.
  3. personal and not a basis of … bodily contact?
    The sphere of … vision, hearing, smell, taste.

What is that form which is

  1. external and not a basis of
    • the feeling …
    • the perception …
    • the volition …
    • the … cognition of body
    that is born of … bodily contact?
  2. personal and a basis of … the cognition of body that is born of bodily contact?
  3. personal and not a basis of … the cognition of body that is born of bodily contact?

Answers identical with those in the preceding triplet taken in order.

What is that form which is

  1. personal and not the object apprehended on occasion of visual contact?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and the object apprehended on occasion of visual contact?
    The sphere of visible form.
  3. external and not the object apprehended on occasion of visual contact?
    The spheres of the other four kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the object of
    • the feeling …
    • the perception …
    • the volition …
    • the visual cognition
    that is born of visual contact?
  2. external and the object of … visual cognition?
  3. external and not the object of … visual cognition?
    Answers identical with those in the preceding triplet, taken in order.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the object apprehended on occasion of
    • auditory …
    • olfactory …
    • gustatory …
    • bodily contact?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and the object apprehended on occasion of … bodily contact?
    The sphere of the tangible.
  3. external and not the object apprehended on occasion of … bodily contact?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the object of
    • the feeling …
    • the perception …
    • the volition …
    • the … cognition of body
    that is born of … bodily contact?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and the object of the … cognition of body that is born of bodily contact?
    The sphere of … the tangible.
  3. external and not the object of the … cognition of body that is born, etc.
    The spheres of the other four kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. external and not the sphere of vision?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and the sphere of vision?
    The eye, that is to say the sentient organ which is derived from the four Great Phenomena … this that is “an empty village”—this, etc.
  3. personal and not the sphere of vision?
    The spheres of the other four senses.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. external and not the sphere of hearing, smell, taste, or body-sensibility?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and the sphere of … body-sensibility?
    The body, that is to say the sentient organ, which is derived from the Great Phenomena … this that is “an empty village”—this, etc.
  3. personal and not the sphere of … body-sensibility?
    The spheres of the other four senses.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the sphere of visible shape?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and the sphere of visible shape?
    That [material] form which, derived from the four Great Phenomena, is visible under the appearance of colour … this that is the element of visible shape—this, etc.
  3. external and not the sphere of visible shape?
    The spheres of the other four kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the sphere of sound, or of odour, or of taste, or of the tangible?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and the sphere of … the tangible?
    The earthy (solid) element, etc. … this that is the constituent element of the tangible—this, etc.
  3. external and not the sphere of … the tangible?
    The spheres of the other four kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. external and not the element of vision?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and the element of vision?
    The sphere of vision.
  3. personal and not the element of vision?
    The other four senses.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. external and not the element of hearing, smell, taste, or body-sensibility?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and the element of … body-sensibility?
    The sphere of … body-sensibility.
  3. personal and not the element of … body-sensibility?
    The spheres of the other four senses.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the element of visible shape?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and the element of visible shape?
    The sphere of visible forms.
  3. external and not the element of visible shape?
    The spheres of the other four kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the element of sound, odour, taste, or the tangible?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and the element of … the tangible?
    The sphere of the tangible.
  3. external and not the element of … the tangible?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. external and not the faculty of vision?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and the faculty of vision?
    The sphere of vision.
  3. personal and not the faculty of vision?
    The spheres of the other four senses.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. external and not the faculty of hearing, smell, taste, or body-sensibility?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.
  2. personal and the faculty of … body-sensibility?
    The body, that is to say the sentient organ which is derived from the four Great Phenomena … this that is “an empty village”—this, etc.
  3. personal and not the faculty of … body-sensibility?
    The spheres of the other four senses.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. personal and not the woman-faculty?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and woman-faculty?
    That which is of the female, female in appearance, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs633">§ 633].
  3. external and not woman-faculty?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

What is that form which is

  1. personal and not the man-faculty? etc.
    The questions and answers in this triplet are exactly analogous with those in the foregoing, <a href="#pts-cs634">§ 634 constituting the answer to (ii).

This triplet is on “life”, and is also exactly analogous with that on “woman-faculty”, <a href="#pts-cs635">§ 635 being substituted in (ii).

What is that form which is

  1. personal and not bodily intimation?
    The spheres of the five senses.
  2. external and bodily intimation?
    That tension, intension, tense state of the body, etc. [Continue as in <a href="#pts-cs636">§ 636].
  3. external and not bodily intimation?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

This triplet is on “vocal intimation”, and similar to the foregoing, <a href="#pts-cs637">§ 637 being quoted as the answer to the second question.

Here follow ten triplets on the presence or absence in form that is personal or external, of the ten following attributes—identical with those ending the categories according to Pairs (<a href="#pts-cs722">§§ 722–<a href="#pts-cs741">741).

  • the element of space,
  • the element of fluidity,
  • the lightness of [material] form,
  • the plasticity of [material] form,
  • the wieldiness of [material] form,
  • the integration of [material] form,
  • the subsistence of [material] form,
  • the decay of [material] form,
  • the impermanence of [material] form,
  • bodily nutriment.

Questions and answers in each of these triplets are identical with those in the triplet last set out on “bodily intimation” (<a href="#pts-cs844">§§ 844–<a href="#pts-cs846">846), the only varying elements being the specific kind of form inquired into and its definition in the second answer of each triplet. Thus the schema of the questions is

  1. personal and not …
  2. external and …
  3. external and not …

Such are the Categories of Form under Threefold Aspects.

[End of] the Exposition of Triplets.

[Material] Form under a Fourfold Aspect

Derivation—Work of Karma

What is that [material] form which is

  1. derived and grasped at?
    The spheres of the five senses; the faculties of sex and life, or whatever other form exists through karma having been wrought, whether it be in the sphere of visible forms, odours, or tastes, the element of space, the integration or subsistence of [material] form, or bodily nutriment.
  2. derived and not grasped at?
    The sphere of sounds, bodily and vocal intimation, the lightness, plasticity, and wieldiness of [material] form, or whatever other [material] form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of visible shapes, odours, or tastes, the element of space, the integration or subsistence of form, or bodily nutriment.
  3. underived and grasped at?
    [Material form] due to karma having been wrought, which is in the sphere of the tangible and the fluid element.
  4. underived and not grasped at?
    [Material form] not due to karma having been wrought, which is in the sphere of the tangible and the fluid element.

Derivation—Production of Karma

What is that [material] form which is

  1. derived and both grasped at and favourable to grasping?
  2. derived and not grasped at but favourable to grasping?
  3. underived and both grasped at and favourable, etc.?
  4. underived and not grasped at but favourable, etc.?

The four answers are respectively identical with those in the preceding group.

Derivation—Reaction

What is that [material] form which is

  1. derived and reacting?
    The spheres of the five senses, and of visible shape, sound, odour and taste.
  2. derived and non-reacting?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.
  3. underived and reacting?
    The sphere of the tangible.
  4. underived and non-reacting?
    The fluid element.

Derivation—Bulk

What is that [material] form which is

  1. derived and gross?
  2. derived and subtle?
  3. underived and gross?
  4. underived and subtle?

Answers respectively identical with those in the preceding group.

Derivation—Proximity

What is that [material] form which is

  1. derived and remote?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.
  2. derived and near?
    The spheres of the five senses, and those of visible shape, sound, odour and taste.
  3. underived and remote?
    The fluid element.
  4. underived and near?
    The sphere of the tangible.

Work of Karma—Visibility

What is that [material] form which is

  1. grasped at and visible?
    The sphere of visible shape which is due to karma having been wrought.
  2. grasped at and invisible?
    The spheres of the five senses; sex and life, or whatever other [material] form exists through karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of odour, taste, or the tangible, the elements of space or fluidity, the integration or subsistence of [material] form, or bodily nutriment.
  3. not grasped at and visible?
    The sphere of visible shape which is not due to karma having been wrought.
  4. not grasped at and invisible?
    The sphere of sound, bodily and vocal intimation, the lightness, plasticity, wieldiness, the decay, or the impermanence of [material] form, or whatever other [material] form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of odour, or of taste, or of the tangible, the elements of space, or of fluidity, the integration or subsistence of [material] form, or bodily nutriment.

Work of Karma—Impact

What is that [material] form which is

  1. grasped at and reacting?
    The spheres of the five senses, or whatever other [material] form exists through karma having been wrought in the spheres of visible shape, odour, taste, or the tangible.
  2. grasped at and non-reacting?
    Sex or life, or whatever other [material] form exists through karma having been wrought in the elements of space or fluidity, in the integration, or subsistence of [material] form, or in bodily nutriment.
  3. not grasped at and reacting?
    The sphere of sound, or whatever other [material] form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought in the spheres of the other four kinds of sense-objects.
  4. not grasped at and non-reacting?
    Bodily and vocal intimation, the lightness, plasticity, wieldiness, decay, or impermanence of [material] form, or whatever other [material] form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought in the elements of space or fluidity, in the integration or subsistence of [material] form, or in bodily nutriment.

Work of Karma—Great Phenomena

What is that [material] form which is

  1. grasped at and great phenomenon?
    The sphere of the tangible and the fluid element which are due to karma having been wrought.
  2. grasped at and not great phenomenon?
    The spheres of the five senses, sex, life, or whatever other [material] form exists through karma having been wrought, in the element of space, in the integration or subsistence of [material] form, or in bodily nutriment.
  3. not grasped at, but great phenomenon?
    The sphere of the tangible and the fluid element which are not due to karma having been wrought.
  4. not grasped at nor great phenomenon?
    The sphere of sound, bodily and vocal intimation, the lightness, plasticity, wieldiness, decay, and impermanence of form, or whatever other form exists which is not due to karma having been wrought, whether it be in the spheres of visible form, odour, or taste, in the element of space, in the integration or subsistence of form, or in bodily nutriment.

Work of Karma—Bulk

What is that form which is

  1. grasped at and gross?
  2. grasped at and subtle?
  3. not grasped at and gross?
  4. not grasped at and subtle?

Answers respectively identical with the four in the next preceding group but one (<a href="#pts-cs901">§§ 901–<a href="#pts-cs904">904).

Work of Karma—Proximity

What is that form which is

  1. grasped at and remote?
  2. grasped at and near?
  3. not grasped at and remote?
  4. not grasped at and near?

Answers identical with those in the preceding group (i.e. with those in <a href="#pts-cs901">§§ 901–<a href="#pts-cs904">904), but having the order of the first and second answers inverted, as well as that of the third and fourth.

In the next five groups of four, form is considered as a combination of (a) “grasped at and favourable to grasping”, and either “visible”, “reacting”, “a great phenomenon”, “gross” or “remote”, or the opposites of these five taken successively; (b) “not grasped at, but favourable to grasping”, and the five above-named attributes and their opposites taken successively. Thus the questions are analogous to, and the answers identical with, those in the preceding five groups (<a href="#pts-cs897">§§ 897–<a href="#pts-cs916">916).

Impact—Faculty

What is that [material] form which is

  1. reacting and faculty?
    The faculties of the five senses.
  2. reacting and not faculty?
    The five kinds of sense-objects.
  3. non-reacting and faculty?
    Sex and life.
  4. non-reacting and not faculty?
    Bodily and vocal intimation … and bodily nutriment.

Impact—Great Phenomenon

What is that [material] form which is

  1. reacting and a great phenomenon?
    The sphere of the tangible.
  2. reacting and not a great phenomenon?
    The spheres of visible form, sound, odour, and taste.
  3. non-reacting and a great phenomenon?
    The fluid element.
  4. non-reacting and not a great phenomenon?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.

Faculty (Potentiality)—Bulk

What is that [material] form which is

  1. faculty and gross?
    The faculties of the five senses.
  2. faculty and subtle?
    Sex and life.
  3. non-faculty and gross?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects.
  4. non-faculty and subtle?
    Intimation … and bodily nutriment.

Faculty (Potentiality)—Proximity

What is that [material] form which is

  1. faculty and remote?
    Sex and life.
  2. faculty and near?
    The faculties of the five senses.
  3. non-faculty and remote?
    Intimation … and bodily nutriment.
  4. non-faculty and near?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects.

Great Phenomenon—Bulk

What is that [material] form which is

  1. a great phenomenon and gross?
    The sphere of the tangible.
  2. a great phenomenon and subtle?
    The fluid element.
  3. not a great phenomenon and gross?
    The spheres of the five senses and of visible form, sound, odour, and taste.
  4. not a great phenomenon and subtle?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.

Great Phenomenon—Proximity

What is that [material] form which is

  1. a great phenomenon and remote?
    The fluid element.
  2. a great phenomenon and near?
    The sphere of the tangible.
  3. not a great phenomenon and remote?
    Sex and life.
  4. not a great phenomenon and near?
    The spheres of the five senses and of visible form, sound, odour and taste.

Form as Seen, Heard, Imagined, Understood

  1. The sphere of visible shape is Form Seen,
  2. The sphere of sound is Form Heard,
  3. The sphere of odour, taste and the tangible is [Material] Form Imagined,
  4. All [material] form is Form Cognized by the mind.

Such are the Categories of [Material] Form under Fourfold Aspects.

[End of] the Groups of Four.

[Material] Form under a Fivefold Aspect

What is that [material] form which is

  1. earth-element (paṭhavī-dhātu)?
    That which is hard, rough, hardness, rigidity, whether it be of the self, or external, or grasped at, or not grasped at.
  2. fluid-element (apodhātu)?
    That which is fluid, belonging to fluid, viscid, belonging to what is viscid, the cohesiveness of form, whether it be of the self, or external, or grasped at, or not grasped at.
  3. heat-element (tejodhātu)?
    That which is flame, belonging to flame, heat, belonging to heat, hot, belonging to what is hot, whether it be of the self, or, etc. [Continue as in preceding].
  4. air-element (vāyodhātu)?
    That which is air, belongs to air [the fluctuation], the inflation, of form, whether it be of the self, or, etc.
  5. derived?
    The spheres of the five senses … and solid nutriment.

Such is the Category of [Material] Form under a Fivefold Aspect.

[End of] the Group of Five.

[Material] Form under a Sixfold Aspect

  1. The sphere of visible shapes is [material] form cognizable by sight.
  2. The sphere of sounds is [material] form cognizable by hearing.
  3. The sphere of odours is [material] form cognizable by smell.
  4. The sphere of tastes is [material] form cognizable by taste.
  5. The sphere of the tangible is [material] form cognizable by body-sensibility.
  6. All [material] form is form cognizable by the mind.

Such is the Category of [Material] Form under a Sixfold Aspect.

[End of] the Group of Six.

[Material] Form under a Sevenfold Aspect

  1. The sphere of visible shapes is [material] form cognizable by sight.
  2. The sphere of sound is [material] form cognizable by hearing.
  3. The sphere of odour is [material] form cognizable by smell.
  4. The sphere of taste is [material] form cognizable by taste.
  5. The sphere of the tangible is [material] form cognizable by body-sensibility.
  6. The spheres of visible shapes, sound, odour, taste, and the tangible are [material] form cognizable by the element of ideation.
  7. All [material] form is form comprehensible by the element of representative intellection.

Such is the Category of [Material] Form under a Sevenfold Aspect.

[End of] the Group of Seven.

[Material] Form under an Eightfold Aspect

  1. The sphere of visible shapes is [material] form cognizable by the eye.
  2. The sphere of sound is [material] form cognizable by the ear.
  3. The sphere of odour is [material] form cognizable by the nose.
  4. The sphere of taste is [material] form cognizable by the tongue.
  5. Pleasurable agreeable contact obtainable by touch is [material] form cognizable by the body.
  6. Unpleasant disagreeable contact obtainable by touch is [material] form cognizable by the body.
  7. The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects are [material] form cognizable by ideation.
  8. All [material] form is form comprehensible by representative intellection.

Such is the Category of [Material] Form under an Eightfold Aspect.

[End of] the Group of Eight.

[Material] Form under a Ninefold Aspect

What is that [material] form which is

  1. vision-faculty?
  2. hearing-faculty?
  3. smell-faculty?
  4. taste-faculty?
  5. body-faculty?
  6. woman-faculty?
  7. man-faculty?
  8. life-faculty?
    The eight answers are those given in the original descriptions of the eight faculties or potentialities enumerated (<a href="#pts-cs597">§§ 597, <a href="#pts-cs601">601, <a href="#pts-cs605">605, <a href="#pts-cs609">609, <a href="#pts-cs613">613, <a href="#pts-cs633">633–635).
  9. What is that [material] form which is not faculty?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects … and bodily nutriment.

Such is the Category of [Material] Form under a Ninefold Aspect.

[End of] the Group of Nine.

[Material] Form under a Tenfold Aspect

The first eight questions and answers are identical with the first eight in the preceding group.

What is that [material] form which is

  1. not faculty but reacting?
    The spheres of the five kinds of sense-objects.
  2. not faculty and non-reacting?
    Intimation … and bodily nutriment.

Such is the Category of [Material] Form under a Tenfold Aspect.

[End of] the Group of Ten.

[Material] Form under an Elevenfold Aspect

What is that [material] form which is

  1. the vision-sphere?
  2. the hearing-sphere?
  3. the smell-sphere?
  4. the taste-sphere?
  5. the body-sphere?
  6. the visible shape-sphere?
  7. the sound-sphere?
  8. the odour-sphere?
  9. the sapid-sphere?
  10. the tangible-sphere?

Answers as in <a href="#pts-cs597">§§ 597, <a href="#pts-cs601">601, <a href="#pts-cs605">605, <a href="#pts-cs609">609, <a href="#pts-cs613">613, <a href="#pts-cs617">617, <a href="#pts-cs621">621, <a href="#pts-cs625">625, <a href="#pts-cs629">629, <a href="#pts-cs649">649 respectively.

  1. What is that [material] form which is invisible, non-reacting, and included in the sphere of [mental] states?
    Sex … and bodily nutriment.

Such is the Category of [Material] Form under an Elevenfold Aspect.

[End of] the Group of Eleven.

[End of] The Divisions of Form.