Re: "sickness of the mental factors (kaya gelañña)"

This follows Dhammasaṅgaṇī-Aṭṭhakathā (Atthasālinī) §1163: Kāyassāti khandhattayasaṅkhātassa nāmakāyassa. The khandhattaya are the three aggregates of vedanā, saññā, and saṅkhārā.

The Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha Vibhāvanī-Ṭīkā (VRI 103–104) discusses at length the objection that the physical body should also be included under kāya. It says that the teachers have rejected this opinion, in various places bringing forth arguments against it. It offers a synopsis of their arguments in the form of verse. Here is the text and a rough translation (I don’t have the PTS translation with me):

… tattha thinaṃ cittassa akammaññatālakkhaṇaṃ, middhaṃ vedanādikkhandhattayassāti ayametesaṃ viseso. Tathā hi pāḷiyaṃ (dha. sa. 1162-1163) ‘‘tattha katamaṃ thinaṃ? Yā cittassa akallatā akammaññatā. Tattha katamaṃ middhaṃ? Yā kāyassa akallatā akammaññatā’’tyādinā imesaṃ niddeso pavatto.

Here, thīna is unwieldiness of the citta; middha, of the three aggregates beginning with vedanā. That is the distinction between them. Thus in the Pāli it is said: (quote)

Nanu ca ‘‘kāyassā’’ti vacanato rūpakāyassapi akammaññatā middhanti tassa rūpabhāvopi āpajjatīti? Nāpajjati, tattha tattha ācariyehi ānītakāraṇavasen’ev’assa paṭikkhittattā. Tathā hi middhavādimatappaṭikkhepanatthaṃ tesaṃ vādanikkhepapubbakaṃ aṭṭhakathādīsu bahudhā vitthārenti ācariyā.

[Question:] “Isn’t it the case that, based on the word ‘body,’ middha is also unwieldiness of the material body, and thus it follows that it is also material?” [Reply:] “It does not follow. For that view has been rejected by the teachers here and there, by bringing forth reasons [against it]. Thus in order to reject that opinion about middha, the teachers elaborate in many ways in the commentaries, first citing the opinion [that is to be rejected].

Ayaṃ panettha saṅgaho –

This here is a synopsis:

‘‘Keci middhampi rūpanti, vadantetaṃ na yujjati;

Pahātabbesu vuttattā, kāmacchandādayo viya.

The opinion is not correct of those who say
that middha too is material;
for then like sensual desire, etc., it would be stated
among the things to be abandoned.

‘‘Pahātabbesu akkhāta-metaṃ nīvaraṇesu hi;

Rūpantu na pahātabba-makkhātaṃ dassanādinā.

For this is declared among the hindrances,

which are things to be abandoned.

But by the one chief in vision (dassanādinā?)

matter was not declared to be abandoned.

The verses go on to discuss the passage where the Buddha tells the monks to “abandon form.” The gist of the discussion is that this statement is a concise way of saying “abandon desire and lust for form.” One does not actually abandon form itself.

Sincerely,
Bhikkhu Bodhi

 

In A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma (p84) < https://books.google.com.my/books?id=ACrogsyJmoAC&q=vitakka&hl=en#v=onepage&q=middha&f=false
>, I find "sickness of the mental factors (kayagelañña)". I don't understand why "kaya" is translated as "mental factors".

with mettâ,
Kumâra Bhikkhu, ven.

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