3.10.10

Lesson 3.10.10 Paṭṭhānapāli – Rūpa: Matter

The whole world is on fire, the whole world is smoldering, (Sabbo ādīpito loko, sabbo loko padhūpito;) The whole world is ablaze, the whole world is trembling. (Sabbo pajjalito loko, sabbo loko pakampito.) My mind delights where nothing trembles, nothing blazes. … (Akampitaṃ apajjalitaṃ, aputhujjanasevitaṃ. … )

When a meditator intends to study the Abhidhamma, with its detailed analyses of ultimate realities, one should not forget about one’s practice and recall the above utterance. It reminds one that theoretical understanding (pariyatti) should always nurture practical application (paṭipatti) and foster pragmatic results. According to the Abhidhamma, the field of matter or corporality (rūpa) is one of the four ‘ultimate realities’. Rūpa is generally identified as four ‘great primaries’, or ‘great essentials’ (mahābhūtā), that consists of an earth element (pathavīdhātu), a water element (āpodhātu), a fire element (tejodhātu) and a wind or air element (vāyodhātu), along with their characteristic qualities. They become increased by twenty-four additional material qualities, derived from those four basic elements, which thus constitute the complete field of matter. Even so, though not noticeably obvious, all are likewise subject to change — being in a constant flux or flow — and inhabit the nature of anicca. Accordingly, the very thought-provoking study of Abhidhamma should inspire and encourage one to realize through vipassanā what is being taught.