The Meaning of dhamma 11.

words:
sata.m: existing, being, true (from sant).
upeti: approach, obtain.
icceva.m: iti+eva.m: thus indeed
koci: someone (pl: keci)
vattati: turn, proceed, take place.
pariccheda (m); measure, division, classification.
vatthu (n): ground, object, thing.
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The Saddaniti explains dhamma as nibbaana:

<"Sata~nca dhammo na jara.m upetii"ti ettha nibbaane vattati.
In the passage �And true dhamma is not susceptible to decay�, here
dhamma means nibbaana...>

We read about dhamma as anattaa:
<Tatra yaa nissattataa, saa eva nijjiivataa.
Here what is devoid of a living being, that is indeed without a soul.>

We read about dhamma as cause:

<Yo ca hetu, so eva paccayo.
What is a cause, that is indeed a condition.>

N: The terms hetu and paccaya are often used together, for example in
the �Kindred Sayings�(IV, XXXV, � 93, Duality: yo pi hetu, yo pi
paccaya...so pi hetu, so pi paccaya.. : that condition, that relation...

The Saddaniti ends with a summary in verse:

Icceva.m-
Thus indeed the word dhamma occurs with reference to the following
words:

Pariyattipaccayesu, gu.ne nissattataaya ca;
scriptures and conditions, virtue and what is devoid of a
living being;

sabhaave ceva pa~n~naaya.m, pu~n~ne pa~n~nattiyampi ca.
what has its own characteristic and wisdom, merit and also
concept.
Aapattiya.m vikaare ca, paccayuppannakepi ca;
disciplinary offense and alteration, and also what is
conditioned;

saccasamaadhipakati-~neyyesu yuttiyampi ca;
truth, concentration and nature, what is to be known and
also what is
suitable;

visaye ceva nibbaane, dhammasaddo pavattati.
object and nibbaana, thus the word dhamma occurs.


Keci pana dhammasaddassa pavattivisayaana.m dasadhaava pariccheda.m
vadanti.
Some teachers, however, indicate the classification of the
applications of the word dhamma as tenfold:

Neyyamagge ca nibbaane, sabhaave atha jaatiya.m;
What is to be known, the Path, nibbaana, what has its own
nature, and
also birth;

mane visayapu~n~nesu, bhaave paavacanepi ca;
mind, object and merit, nature and also the scriptures;

imesu dasavatthesu, dhammasaddo pavattati.
in these ten applications the word dhamma occurs.

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Nina.

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