Dear Yong Peng,
The PTS translates dhamma as 'thing'.
Akusalaadhammaa: this is very general and includes many realities, citta and
cetasikas that accompany citta.
You suggested unwholesome thoughts, but I found thoughts too limited. We can
also think of akusala cittas motivating actions and speech.
These were my reflections. But now we have to find the right word that
covers many things.
Nina.

op 19-01-2006 11:42 schreef Ong Yong Peng op pali.smith@...:
.

>
> For akusalaadhammaa, you seems to suggest the term refers to
> unwholesome actions. I was thinking if that is the case, the Buddha
> would say akusalaakammaa instead. But, I also recall our discussion
> on Dhammapada verses 1 and 2 not long ago, where we have something
> very similar. I wonder what the PTS has for dhammaa, and what others
> think.