[dic] dhātu (dhatu)

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ATI Glossary

➥ dhātu: Element; property, impersonal condition. The four physical elements or properties are earth (solidity), water (liquidity), wind (motion), and fire (heat). The six elements include the above four plus space and consciousness.

Buddhist Dictionary

by late Ven. Nyanalokita Thera:

➥ dhātu: 'elements', are the ultimate constituents of a whole.

(1) The 4 physical elements (dhātu or Mahā-bhūta), popularly called earth, water, fire and wind, are to be understood as the primary qualities of matter. They are named in Pāḷi: paṭhavī-dhātu, āpo-dhātu, tejo-dhātu, and vāyo-dhātu. In Visuddhi Magga XI, 2 the four elements are defined thus: “Whatever is characterized by hardness (thaddha-lakkkhaṇa) is the earth or solid-element; by cohesion (ābandhana) or fluidity, the water-element; by heating (paripācana), the fire or heat-element; by strengthening or supporting (vitthambhana), the wind or motion-element. All four are present in every material object, though in varying degrees of strength. If, for instance, the earth element predominates, the material object is called 'solid', etc. - For the analysis of the 4 elements, see dhātu-vavatthāna.

(II) The 18 physical and mental elements that constitute the conditions or foundations of the process of perception, are:

1. visual organ (eye)	6. visible object	11. eye-consciousness
2. auditory organ (ear)	7. sound or audible object	12. ear-consciousness
3. olfactory organ (nose)	8. odour or olfactive object	13. nose-consciousness
4. gustatory organ (tongue)	9. gustative object	14. tongue-consciousness
5. tactile organ (body)	10. body-impression	15. body-consciousness
16. mind-element	17. mind-object (mano-dhātu) (dhamma-dhātu)	18. mind-consciousness-element (mano-viññāṇa-dhātu)

1-10 are physical; 11-16 and 18 are mental; 17 may be either physical or mental. - 16 performs the function of advertence (āvajjana) towards the object at the inception of a process of sensuous consciousness; it further performs the function of receiving (sampaṭicchana) the sensuous object. 18 performs, e.g., the function of investigation (santīraṇa), determining (voṭṭhapana) and registering (tadārammaṇa) - (for its other functions, see Table I). For the 14 functions of consciousness, see viññāṇa-kicca.

Cf. MN 115; SN 1IV and especially Vibhaṅga II (F. Guide p. 28f), Visuddhi Magga XV, 17ff.

Of the many further groupings of elements (enumerated in MN 115), the best known is that of the 3 world-elements: the sensuous world (kāma-dhātu), the fine-material world (rūpa-dhātu), the immaterial world (arūpa-dhātu); further the sixfold group: the solid, liquid, heat, motion, space, consciousness (paṭhavī, āpo, tejo, vāyo, ākāsa, viññāṇa; see above I), described in MN 140; see also MN 112.

PTS Dictionary

by the Pali Text Society:

Glossary Thanissaro

by Ven. Thanissaro Maha Thera:

➥ dhātu: Element; property; potential. In the Pāḷi Canon this word occurs primarily in discussions of the causes of activity, in which it forms the ultimate precondition underlying the causal chain leading to the activity in question. The arousal or irritation of the dhātu is what causes the activity to take place. Thus on the psychological level, the properties of sensuality, anger, or delusion in a person’s mind are the basic conditions underlying unskillful action on his or her part. On the level of nature at large, phenomena such as windstorms, fires, floods, and earthquakes are explained as resulting from the arousal of the properties of earth, wind, fire, and water. Such disorders cease when the disturbed property grows calm. Thus, for instance, when the fire property runs out of sustenance to cling to, it grows calm and the individual fire goes out. On the level of the human body, diseases are explained as resulting from the aggravation of any of these properties, all of which permeate the entire body. For example, in Thai medicine, belching, fainting, cramps, convulsions, and paralysis are associated with disorders of the internal wind element.

All of this explanation may make the notion of dhātu seem rather foreign, but when used as an object of meditation, the four physical dhātu are simply a way of viewing the body in impersonal, purely physical terms. They are experienced as the elementary sensations and potentials — warmth, movement, etc. — that permeate and make up the internal sense of the body (see rūpa). Thus the meditation exercise of spreading the breath throughout the body is simply the feeling of linking the sensations of the in-and-out breath with the subtle sense of motion that permeates the body at all times. The six dhātu — the four physical dhātu plus space and consciousness — constitute the elementary properties or potentials that underlie the experience of physical and mental phenomena.

Illustrated Glossary of Pāli Terms

by Ven. Varado Maha Thera:

➥ dhātu:

Renderings

for dhātu:
- phenomenon
- elements of existence
- constituent element
- material phenomenon
- element of sensation
- element
- aspect
- plane of existence
- (redundancy)
for lokadhātu:
- multi-universe system
dhātuṁ: phenomenon
dhātuyo: phenomenon; elements of sensation
dhātuyā: phenomenon; phenomenon: redundant
dhātuso: material phenomena
lokadhātu: multi-universe system

Introduction

‘Element’ vs. ‘phenomenon’

Dhātu can be rendered ‘element’ where it means constituent part, but otherwise it is better called ‘phenomenon.’ In many cases, the word is practically redundant.

Amatadhātu

Because of its importance, amatadhātu is treated separately sv Amatadhātu.

Illustrations

Illustration: dhātu, phenomena

The bhikkhu… enters and abides in fourth jhāna, which is free of pleasure and pain, and [is imbued with] purified detached awareness and mindfulness.

catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

This mode of meditation when developed and cultivated leads to the understanding of many phenomena.

Idaṁ bhante anussatiṭṭhānaṁ evaṁ bhāvitaṁ evaṁ bahulīkataṁ anekadhātu paṭivedhāya saṁvattatī. (AN iii 325)

• Bhante, when, in regard to those who are not perfectly enlightened, the view arises that they are in fact perfectly enlightened, due to what is this view to be discerned?

yāyaṁ bhante diṭṭhi asammāsambuddhesu sammā sambuddhā ti. Ayaṁ nu kho bhante diṭṭhi kiṁ paṭicca paññāyatī ti

• Mighty, Kaccāna, is this phenomenon, namely the phenomenon of uninsightfulness into reality.

mahati kho esā kaccāna dhātu yadidaṁ avijjādhātu. (SN ii 153)

There are the phenomenon of exertion, the phenomenon of endeavour, the phenomenon of application [to the practice]:

Atthi bhikkhave ārambhadhātu nikkamadhātu parakkamadhātu. (SN v 103-108)

Illustration: dhātu, constituent elements

The Perfect One discerns according to reality the world [of phenomena] with its many and various constituent elements.

anekadhātunānādhātulokaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. (MN i 70)

Illustration: dhātu, elements

The [religious] world is made up of many and various elements, and whatever of these elements that beings stubbornly adhere to, then dogmatically grasping and stubbornly adhering they assert ‘This alone is true, all else is false.’

Anekadhātunānādhātu kho devānaminda loko. Tasmiṁ anekadhātunānādhātusmiṁ loke yaṁ yadeva sattā dhātuṁ abhinivisanti taṁ tadeva thāmasā parāmassa abhinivissa voharanti idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan ti. (DN ii 282)

Illustration: dhātu, aspect

Bhikkhu, that aspect of the teaching has been correctly penetrated by Sāriputta, which through being correctly penetrated… if I had for seven days and nights questioned Sāriputta about the matter in various ways and manners, then for seven days and nights Sāriputta would have been able to answer me in various ways and manners.

Sā hi bhikkhu sāriputtassa dhammadhātu suppaṭividdhā yassa dhammadhātuyā suppaṭividdhattā… satta rattindivāni cepahaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamattaṁ puccheyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi satta rattindivānipi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ vyākareyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehī ti. (SN ii 56)

These two aspects of the Untroubled were made known by the Seer, free of attachment, and of excellent qualities.

Duve imā cakkhumatā pakāsitā nibbānadhātu anissitena tādinā

One aspect is realisable in this lifetime, with residue, but with the conduit to renewed states of individual existence destroyed;

Ekā hi dhātu idha diṭṭhadhammikā saupādisesā bhavanettisaṅkhayā.

The other, having no residue, is that wherein states of individual existence altogether cease.

Anupādisesā pana samparāyikā yamhi nirujjhanti bhavāni sabbaso. (Iti 38-9)

Illustration: dhātu, plane of existence

Deed that produces karmic consequences in:

• the sensuous plane of existence

kāmadhātuvepakkañca kammaṁ

• the refined material plane of existence

rūpadhātuvepakkañca kammaṁ

• the immaterial plane of existence

arūpadhātuvepakkañca kammaṁ. (AN i 223-4)

For beings [obstructed by] uninsightfulness into reality, and [tethered to individual existence] by craving

avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ

the stream of consciousness is established in the low plane of existence

hīnāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ

… the stream of consciousness is established in the middle plane of existence

majjhimāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ

… the stream of consciousness is established in the high plane of existence

paṇītāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ

In this way renewed states of individual existence and rebirth occur in the future

evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. (AN i 223-4)

Illustration: dhātu, elements of existence

Now if other people insult, malign, exasperate and harass a bhikkhu he knows that an unpleasant sense impression born of auditory sensation has arisen within him which is dependent, not self-sufficient. Dependent on what? Dependent on sensation.

uppannā kho me ayaṁ sotasamphassajā dukkhā vedanā sā ca kho paṭicca no appaṭicca. Kiṁ paṭicca? Phassaṁ paṭicca.

He sees that sensation is unlasting, sense impression is unlasting, perception is unlasting, mental factors are unlasting, fields of sensation are unlasting.

So phasso anicco ti passati. Vedanā aniccā ti passati. Saññā aniccā ti passati. Saṅkhārā aniccā ti passa ti. Viññāṇaṁ aniccan ti passati.

Having elements of existence as the basis [for spiritual development] his mind becomes energised, serene, settled, and intent upon [their contemplation].

Tassa dhātārammaṇameva cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. (MN i 186)

Illustration: dhātu, phenomenon; dhātu, practically redundant; dhātu, elements of existence

• There are these six phenomena: the phenomenon of sensuous yearning, the phenomenon of unsensuousness, the phenomenon of ill will, the phenomenon of goodwill, the phenomenon of maliciousness, the phenomenon of compassion.

Chayimā ānanda dhātuyo: kāmadhātu nekkhammadhātu vyāpādadhātu avyāpādadhātu vihiṁsādhātu avihiṁsādhātu

… Through knowing and seeing these six phenomena [according to reality], Ānanda, a bhikkhu can be called knowledgeable about elements of existence

imā kho ānanda cha dhātuyo yato jānāti passati ettāvatā pi kho ānanda dhātukusalo bhikkhū ti alaṁ vacanāyā ti. (MN iii 62)

COMMENT:

We say ‘practically redundant,’ meaning that, for example, ‘the phenomenon of sensuous yearning’ could be equally called ‘sensuous yearning.’

Six phenomena: the phenomenon of physical pleasure, the phenomenon of physical pain; the phenomenon of psychological pleasure; the phenomenon of psychological pain; the phenomenon of neutral experience; the phenomenon of uninsightfulness into reality

chayimā ānanda dhātuyo: sukhadhātu dukkhadhātu somanassadhātu domanassadhātu upekkhādhātu avijjādhātu.

… Through knowing and seeing these six phenomena [according to reality], Ānanda, a bhikkhu can be called knowledgeable about elements of existence

Imā kho ānanda cha dhātuyo yato jānāti passati. (MN iii 62)

COMMENT:

We say ‘practically redundant,’ meaning that, for example, ‘the phenomenon of physical pleasure’ could be equally called ‘physical pleasure.’

Illustration: dhātu, element: practically redundant

Which two things should be fully understood? Two elements: the originated element and the unoriginated element

Katame dve dhammā abhiññeyyā? Dve dhātuyo: saṅkhatā ca dhātu asaṅkhatā ca dhātu. (DN iii 274)

COMMENT:

We say ‘practically redundant,’ meaning that, for example, ‘the originated element’ could be equally called ‘what is originated.’

Illustration: dhātu, phenomenon: redundant in some cases

The phenomenon of light (ābhādhātu), the phenomenon of loveliness (subhadhātu), the state of awareness of boundless space (ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu), the state of awareness of boundless consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu), and the state of awareness of nonexistence (ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu): these phenomena are to be attained with perception (imā dhātuyo saññāsamāpatti pattabbā).

The state of awareness neither having nor lacking perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu) is a phenomena attained with a residue of effort (ayaṁ dhātu saṅkhārāvasesā samāpatti pattabbā, which MN ii 231-2 shows means saṅkhāra-avasesā).

The phenomenon of the ending of perception and sense impression (saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu) is a phenomenon attained with the ending [of originated phenomena] (ayaṁ dhātu nirodhasamāpatti pattabbāti). (SN ii 151)

COMMENT:

We say ‘redundant in some cases.’ Here, for example, referring to ‘the state of awareness of boundless space’ as ‘the phenomenon of the state of awareness of boundless space’ is unwieldy.

Illustration: dhātu, phenomenon: redundant

‘Here the Perfect One passed away to the Untroubled-without-residue.

idha tathāgato anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbuto ti pi. (DN ii 141)

COMMENT:

We say ‘redundant,’ meaning that referring to ‘the Untroubled-without-residue’ as ‘the phenomenon of the Untroubled-without-residue’ is unwieldy.

dhātuṁ

➥ dhātuṁ: (main article see: dhātu)

Illustration: dhātuṁ, phenomenon

Because of the phenomenon of visible objects, mental imagery of visible objects arises

rūpadhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpasaññā. (SN ii 144)

dhātuyo

➥ dhātuyo: (main article see: dhātu)

Illustration: dhātuyo, phenomenon

What three things are hard to fathom?

tayo dhammā duppaṭivijjhā

The three phenomena leading to deliverance.

tisso nissaraṇiyā dhātuyo

• The deliverance from sensuous pleasure, namely the practice of unsensuousness.

kāmānametaṁ nissaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ nekkhammaṁ

• The deliverance from refined material states of awareness, namely immaterial states of awareness.

rūpānametaṁ nissaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ āruppaṁ

• From whatever is brought about, originated, dependently arisen, the ending [of originated phenomena] is the deliverance.

yaṁ kho pana kiñci bhūtaṁ saṅkhataṁ paṭiccasamuppannaṁ nirodho tassa nissaraṇaṁ. (DN iii 275)

Illustration: dhātuyo, elements of sensation; dhātu, phenomenon

There are these eighteen elements of sensation:

Aṭṭhārasa kho imā ānanda dhātuyo

• the phenomenon of sight, the phenomenon of visible objects, the phenomenon of the visual field of sensation.

cakkhudhātu rūpadhātu cakkhuviññāṇadhātu;

• the phenomenon of hearing, the phenomenon of audible objects, the phenomenon of the auditory field of sensation.

sotadhātu saddadhātu sotaviññāṇadhātu. (MN iii 62)

dhātuyā

➥ dhātuyā: (main article see: dhātu)

Illustration: dhātuyā, phenomenon

For one who abides contemplating the unloveliness of the body the proclivity to attachment to the phenomenon of loveliness is abandoned.

asubhānupassīnaṁ bhikkhave kāyasmiṁ viharataṁ yo subhāya dhātuyā rāgānusayo so pahīyati. (Iti 80)

Illustration: dhātuyā, phenomenon: redundant

This, bhikkhu, is a designation for the Untroubled: the elimination of attachment, hatred, and undiscernment of reality.

Nibbānadhātuyā kho etaṁ bhikkhu adhivacanaṁ rāgavinayo dosavinayo mohavinayo ti

The destruction of perceptually obscuring states is spoken of in that way.

Āsavānaṁ khayo tena vuccatī ti. (SN v 8)

COMMENT:

We say ‘redundant,’ meaning that referring to the Untroubled as ‘the phenomenon of the Untroubled’ is a redundancy.

dhātuso

➥ dhātuso: (main article see: dhātu)

Illustration: dhātuso, material phenomena; dhātu, Phenomenon

Furthermore, the bhikkhu contemplates this very body however placed or disposed in terms of material phenomena

imameva kāyaṁ yathāṭhitaṁ yathāpaṇihitaṁ dhātuso paccavekkhati

• In this [wretched human] body there is the Solidness Phenomenon, the Liquidness Phenomenon, the Warmth Phenomenon, and the Gaseousness Phenomenon.

Atthi imasmiṁ kāye paṭhavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū ti. (MN i 57)

lokadhātu

➥ lokadhātu: (main article see: dhātu)

Illustration: lokadhātu, multi-universe system

The ten thousandfold multi-universe system trembled, quaked, and shook

dasasahassī lokadhātu saṅkampi sampakampi sampavedhi. (Vin.1.12)

Glossary various Teacher

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Table of Contents

[dic] dhātu (dhatu)

ATI Glossary

Buddhist Dictionary

PTS Dictionary

Glossary Thanissaro

Illustrated Glossary of Pāli Terms

Renderings

Introduction

Illustrations

dhātuṁ

dhātuyo

dhātuyā

dhātuso

lokadhātu

Glossary various Teacher

See also

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Table of Contents

[dic] dhātu (dhatu)

ATI Glossary

Buddhist Dictionary

PTS Dictionary

Glossary Thanissaro

Illustrated Glossary of Pāli Terms

Renderings

Introduction

Illustrations

dhātuṁ

dhātuyo

dhātuyā

dhātuso

lokadhātu

Glossary various Teacher

See also

Info & meta data

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