Re: Abhidhamma Series, no 24. The Seven Books of the Abhidhamma (par

Dear Nina,

Thank you very much for your reply.

Do you mean that the term, Maatikaa, `does not actually presented' in the other six Abhidhamma books, but only in meaning, Maatikaa ("a table of contents, or matrix") can be served as an introduction to the other books?

It seems to me Maatikaa means simply the fundamental topics/subject headings (of the Buddha teachings).

You also mention Suttanta matrix ("After the Abhidhamma matrix there is a Suttanta matrix, explaining
sutta terms."). Could you give some details of the Suttanta matrix? Thank you.

Investigating the differences and similarities of the Abhidhamma matrix and Suttanta matrix may help us to understand more in history on the fundamental teachings of Early Buddhism.

Regards,

Thomas Law

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Nina van Gorkom <vangorko@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Thomas,
> Good you ask, it is important.
> Op 4-aug-2010, om 4:34 heeft thomaslaw03 het volgende geschreven:
>
> > Regarding matika you mentioned below, could you explain what is
> > "matika"? Can this term also be used/presented in other Abhidhamma
> > texts?
> ------
> N: Maatikaa has been translated as table of contents, or matrix. It
> is more extensive than a table of contents. This maatikaa has been
> arranged by way of triads and dyads. It is a survey of the contents
> of the first book and can even serve as an introduction to all seven
> books. Different groups of defilements have been listed, such as the
> intoxicants (aasavas), fetters, ties, floods, yokes, hindrances.
> After the Abhidhamma matrix there is a Suttanta matrix, explaining
> sutta terms. The Atthasaalinii, the commentary to the
> Dhammasa"nganii, dedicates a whole chapter to explain the notions of
> the Maatika.
> The Maatikaa begins with: kusala dhammaa, akusala dhammaa, avyaakata
> dhammaa.
> In these three terms all that is real has been contained. In
> avyaakata dhammaa, indeterminate dhammas, are included all realities
> that are not kusala or akusala, namely: vipaakacittas, kiriyacittas,
> ruupas and nibbaana.
> The whole Tipi.taka is directed towards liberation of the cycle of
> birth and death through insight. This appears also in the Maatika,
> where we read (!013-1015): "Dhammas going to building up; going to
> pulling down; going to neither."
> The Atthasaalinii elaborates: " 'accumulation' means that which is
> accumulated by kamma and corruptions. It is a name for the processes
> of rebirth and decease. 'Leading to accumulation' are 'those causes
> which by being accomplished to go to, lead a man, in whom they arise,
> to that round of rebirth'. It is a name for co-intoxicant moral or
> immoral states. Nibbaana being free from 'cumulation', which is
> another word for 'accumulation', is called dispersion. 'Leading to
> dispersion' is 'going towards that dispersion which he has made his
> object.' It is a name for the Ariyan Paths. Or, 'leading to
> accumulation' are those states which go about severally arranging
> (births and deaths in) a round of destiny like a bricklayer who
> arranges bricks, layer by layer, in a wall.' 'Leading to dispersion'
> are those states which go about destroying that very round, like a
> man who continually removes the bricks as they are laid by the mason."
> ------
> Nina.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>