Re: Nicca

On 15 Oct 2006, at 06:55, Stephen Hodge wrote:

>  I am looking for a definition of "nicca" (permanence) in the
> Atthakatha or
>  elsewhere. I have searched but nothing inmediately catches my
> attention.

You need to look at the commentarial accounts of eternalism and
nibbaana; in the former the stock definition of nicca is "separated
from arising and falling away" (uppaadavayarahita), while in the latter
it is "on account of the absence of production, ageing and death"
(pabhavajaraamara.naana.m abhaavato).

Some examples:

Brahmajaalasutta-va.n.nanaa on the phrase "nicco dhuvo sassato
avipari.naamadhammo" —

_nicco_ ti-aadiisu tassa upapatti.m apassanto _nicco_ ti vadati,
mara.na.m apassanto _dhuvo_ ti, sadaabhaavato _sassato_ ti,
jaraavasenaapi vipari.naamassa abhaavato avipari.naamadhammoti.
(DA. i. 112-3)

Sub-commentary to the same —

_amara.m nicca.m dhuvan_ ti sassatavevacanaani. mara.naabhaavena vaa
_amara.m, _ uppaadaabhaavena sabbathaapi atthitaaya _nicca.m, _
thira.t.thena vikaaraabhaavena _dhuva.m.

Sabbaasavasutta-va.n.nanaa on the same —

_nicco_ ti uppaadavayarahito. _dhuvo_ ti thiro saarabhuuto. _sassato_
ti sabbakaaliko. _avipari.naamadhammo_ ti attano pakatibhaava.m
avijahanadhammo, kaka.n.tako viya naanappakaarata.m naapajjati.
_sassatisaman_ ti candasuuriyasamuddamahaapathaviipabbataa
lokavohaarena sassatiyoti vuccanti. sassatiihi sama.m _sassatisama.m_.
(MA. i. 71; & Pa.tiA. ii. 419)

The Visuddhimagga's nibbaanakathaa on the permanence of nibbaana —

pabhavajaraamara.naana.m abhaavato _nicca.m_. nibbaanasseva
a.nu-aadiinampi niccabhaavaapattiiti ce. na, hetuno abhaavaa.
nibbaanassa niccattaa te niccaati ce. na, hetulakkha.nassa
anupapattito. niccaa uppaadaadiina.m abhaavato nibbaana.m viyaati ce.
na, a.nuaadiina.m asiddhattaa.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando