As we have seen, the Dhammapada-Atthakata mentions dhamma as an entity
without a living soul (nissatta, nijjiva):
<"Tasmi.m khopana samaye dhammaa honti, khandhaa hontii"ti (dha. sa. 121)
Then, at that time dhammas occur, khandhas occur.>
The ³Atthasaalinii² (38, Co. to the Dhammasangani) refers to the different
meanings of the word dhamma:
Dhammasaddo panaaya.m pariyatti-hetu-gu.na-nissatta-nijjiivata-adiisu
dissati.
And the word dhamma is used in the sense of scriptural text (pariyatti),
virtue (gu.na), absence of an entity, living thing (nissatta, nijjiva),
etc.
Aya~nhi "dhamma.m pariyaapu.naati sutta.m geyyan"ti-aadiisu
(a. ni. 4.102) pariyattiya.m dissati.
In such passages as, ³This one studies the Dhamma, the sutta and the Geyya-
dhamma means ³the Scriptures².
"Hetumhi ~naa.na.m dhamma pa.tisambhidaa"ti-aadiisu (vibha. 720) hetumhi.
In such passages as ,²Knowledge of root-conditions is analysis of dhamma
(pa.tisambhidaa)-dhamma means root-condition or cause.
"Na hi dhammo adhammo ca, ubho samavipaakino;
adhammo niraya.m neti, dhammo paapeti suggatin"ti.
(theragaa. 304; jaa. 1.15.386)-
In such passages as ³dhamma, adhamma bear no equal fruit:
adhamma leads to hell, dhamma causes one to reach heaven², dhamma means
³virtue² or ³good quality².
"Tasmi.m kho pana samaye dhammaa honti" (dha. sa. 121),
In such passages as, ³At the time of consciousness coming into existence,
there occur dhammas²;
""dhammesu dhammaanupassii viharatii"ti-aadiisu (dii. ni. 2.373)
nissattanijjiivataaya.m.
and again, ³he abides watchful over certain dhammas²-dhamma implies absence
of an entity or living soul.²....
Remarks: The last sentence refers to the fourth Application of Mindfulness:
contemplating dhammas in dhammas. All objects of mindfulness which have not
been classified in the first three Applications of Mindfulness are
classified in the fourth Application of Mindfulness. This Application
includes the cetasikas which are the five hindrances, it includes the five
khandhas, the six internal and the six external aayatanas (sense-bases), the
seven factors of enlightenment and the four noble Truths. These are all
dhammas without a living soul, they are not a person, not a being, not self.
******
Nina.