➥ guṇa:

• for guṇa:
  • times
  • spiritual quality
  • quality
  • level of
  • stage of
  • way/manner
  • practice
  • kind of
  • variety
  • layered
• for guṇavant:
  • virtuous
• for saguṇaṁ karoti:
  • to fold
• guṇaṁ: times; two times/one time; fold; layered; kind of
• guṇā: times; layered; varieties; stages; practice;
• saguṇaṁ katvā: to fold
• guṇe: level; quality
• guṇavant: virtuous
• guṇesu: spiritual quality

Guṇā: constituent parts

The only problem with guṇa is its use in pañcakāmaguṇā, which is often called ‘the five strands of sense pleasure.’ The word ‘strand’ is used because rope is made of strands, where strands are its constituent parts, says PED. If this is the case, then guṇā would be less confusingly called constituent parts, not strands.

Guṇā: kinds of

Norman says ‘It is sometimes said that guṇā has no meaning in kāmaguṇā. It actually means “kinds of… ”’ (Group of Discourses, p.160, note 50-51).

Guṇā: varieties of

We say ‘kinds of’ in the phrase ‘he undertakes and practises some kind of austerity’ (aññataraṁ vā pana tapoguṇaṁ samādāya vattati: MN ii 36). Bodhi likewise says ‘some kind of asceticism’; but we say ‘varieties’ in the phrase pañcime bhikkhave kāmaguṇā: ‘five varieties of sensuous pleasure.’

The other guṇa

There are two words guṇa, the other one meaning ‘ball, cluster, chain,’ and which commonly substitutes with guḷa:

• the elephant that bursts all its fastenings and chains

nāgoca sandānaguṇāni chetvā. (DN ii 274)

• one adorned with a chain of garlands

mālāguṇaparikkhittāpi. (MN i 286)

Also antaguṇaṁ (mesentary), is part of this group.

Illustration: guṇa, way/manner

Those who talk aggressively, dogmatically, arrogantly, offending in an ignoble way, seeking to expose each other's faults,

Ye viruddhā sallapanti viniviṭṭhā samussitā
Anariyaguṇamāsajja aññamañña vivaresino. (AN i 199)

Illustration: guṇa, spiritual quality

Administrating the community of bhikkhus though being full of despicable spiritual qualities.

Guṇahīnā pi saṅghamhi voharantā. (Tha 955)

➥ guṇaṁ: (main article see: guṇa)

Illustration: guṇaṁ, times

However many superhuman displays of psychic power the ascetic Gotama performs, I will perform twice (two times) as many.

iti yāvatakaṁ samaṇo gotamo uttarimanussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṁ karissati taddiguṇaṁ taddiguṇāhaṁ karissāmī ti. (DN iii 13)

When some business is to be done he lets you have twice (two times) the money you ask for.

uppanne kiccakaraṇīye taddiguṇaṁ bhogaṁ anuppadeti. (DN iii 187)

However much Anopamā weighs, that daughter of yours, I will give you eight times that in gold and gems [as a dowry].

Yattakaṁ tulitā esā tuyhaṁ dhītā anūpamā.
Tato aṭṭhaguṇaṁ dassaṁ hiraññaṁ ratanāni ca. (Thi 153)

Illustration: guṇaṁ, two times/one time

They do not go to the Far Shore twice (two times); this [Far Shore] is not experienced [even] once (one time).

Na pāraṁ diguṇaṁ yanti na idaṁ ekaguṇaṁ mutaṁ. (Snp 714)

Illustration: guṇaṁ, fold

Come, Ānanda, double up my outer robe for me; I am tired and will lie down.

catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭi paññapehi. (DN ii 128)

Comment:

The outer robe is double thickness. Folding it once makes it four thicknesses (catugguṇaṁ).

On a doubled-up robe I will lie down

catugguṇaṁ patthara me nipacchaṁ. (DN ii 135)

Then the Blessed One having doubled up his outer robe lay down on his right side in the lion’s posture

Atha kho bhagavā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññapetvā dakkiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappesi. (AN v 126)

Illustration: guṇaṁ, layered

I allow you bhikkhus three robes: a double-layered outer robe, a single-layered upper robe, a single-layered inner robe.

anujānāmi bhikkhave ticīvaraṁ: diguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ ekacciyaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ ekacciyaṁ antaravāsakan ti. (Vin.1.288)

When garments are thin from use, I allow a four-layered outer robe, a double-layered upper robe, a double-layered inner robe.

anujānāmi bhikkhave… utuddhaṭānaṁ dussānaṁ catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ dviguṇaṁ uttarāsaṅghaṁ dviguṇaṁ antaravāsakaṁ Vin.1.290).

Illustration: guṇaṁ, kind of

He undertakes and practises some kind of austerity

aññataraṁ vā pana tapoguṇaṁ samādāya vattati. (MN ii 36)

➥ guṇā: (main article see: guṇa)

Illustration: guṇā, times

By giving a gift to an animal, the gift may be expected to repay a hundredfold (hundred times).

tatrānanda tiracchānagate dānaṁ datvā sataguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā. (MN iii 255)

Illustration: guṇā, layered

I allow sandals with one layer. Bhikkhus, double-layered sandals should not be worn; triple-layered sandals should not be worn, multi-layered sandals should not be worn.

anujānāmi bhikkhave ekapalāsikaṁ upāhanaṁ. Na bhikkhave diguṇā upāhanā dharetabbā. Na tiguṇā upāhanā dharetabbā na guṇaṅguṇūpāhanā dhāretabbā. (Vin.1.185)

Illustration: guṇā, varieties

These are the five varieties of sensuous pleasure.

Pañcime bhikkhave kāmaguṇā

Visible objects known via the visual sense that are likeable, loveable, pleasing, agreeable, connected with sensuous pleasure, and charming.

cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantāmanāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajaniyā.

and likewise for audible objects, smellable objects, tasteable objects, and tangible objects.

Illustration: guṇā, stages

Time flies by, the nights swiftly pass; the stages of life successively desert us.

Accenti kālā tarayanti rattiyo vayoguṇā anupubbaṁ jahanti. (SN i 3)

Illustration: guṇā, practice

Thus perhaps I may drive him away from this religious life: I may drive him away from bhikkhuhood, asceticism, the aggregate of virtuous practices, the practice of austerity.

Appevanāma naṁ imamhā brahmacariyā cāveyyanti bhikkhubhāvā cāveyyaṁ samaṇadhammā cāveyyaṁ sīlakkhandhā cāveyyaṁ tapoguṇā cāveyyaṁ. (Vin.3.163-4)

Venerable Sudinna practised these kinds of ascetic practises: dwelling in the forest, only accepting food given on almsround, wearing rag-robes, walking on uninterrupted house-to-house almsround.

āyasmā sudinno evarūpe dhutaguṇe samādāya vattati: āraññako hoti piṇḍapātiko paṁsukuliko sapadānacāriko. (Vin.3.15)

➥ saguṇaṁ katvā: (main article see: guṇa)

Illustration: saguṇaṁ katvā, to fold

Having folded them, his [outer and upper] robes are to be given to him.

Saguṇaṁ katvā saṅghāṭiyo dātabbā. (Vin.1.46)

➥ guṇe: (main article see: guṇa)

Illustration: guṇe, level

• ’Soṇa, when its strings were neither too tight nor too loose but adjusted to an even level, was your lute tuneful and good for playing?’

na accāyatā honti na atisithilā same guṇe patiṭṭhitā

• ’Yes, bhante’. (AN iii 375; Vin.1.182)

Illustration: guṇe, quality

He who is given to the quality of greed reviles others with his speech.

Yo lobhaguṇe anuyutto so vacasā paribhāsati aññe. (Snp 663)

➥ guṇavant: (main article see: guṇa)

Illustration: guṇavant, virtuous

Two virtuous bhikkhunīs

dve bhikkhunīyo hi guṇavatiyo. (Thi 399)

He had another wife, a moral, virtuous, and glorious woman.

Tassapi aññā bhariyā sīlavatī guṇavatī yasavatī ca. (Thi 445)

➥ guṇesu: (main article see: guṇa)

Illustration: guṇesu, spiritual quality

In the midst of those who are pure, well behaved, with good spiritual qualities, one should constantly guard speech and mind.

Tasmā suci pesala sādhu guṇesu
Vācaṁ manaṁ satataṁ parirakkheti. (Snp 678)