[Tobias G]

Suddhāṭṭhaka consist of 8 units. I have the impression that in the suttas only the four maha bhuta are mentioned (which are based on avijja). The upādāya rūpa are based on tanha. Are they not important enough?

[Lal]

Yes. You are correct that only the four maha bhuta are mentioned as components of the ‘fundamental element of matter’ in the suttas.  In fact, the suttas do not use the word suddhāṭṭhaka for that ‘fundamental element of matter.’

• That is because Abhidhamma was not taught (or even fully developed) during the lifetime of the Buddha. The Buddha taught the essential elements to Ven. Sariputta, and ‘his lineage of bhikkhus‘ developed the Abhidhamma theory over many generations. It was finalized about 200 years after the Buddha’s passing. See “Abhidhamma – Introduction.”
• The eight elements in a suddhāṭṭhaka are discussed in “The Origin of Matter – Suddhāṭṭhaka.” The following is in  that post:

Suddhāṭṭhaka (“suddha” for “pure” or fundamental” + “aṭṭha” or “eight”) means a unit of matter consisting of eight fundamental entities (usually translated as the ‘pure octad’).

• Four of these belong to the “bhūta” stage of pathavi, āpo, tejo, and vāyo arising due to avijjā.
• The craving for material things leads to four more due to taṇhā. Those are vaṇṇa, gandha, rasa, and oja are created due to taṇhā. The four upādāya rūpa are based on tanha that you mentioned (as the suttas refer to) are these four.
• Since Abhidhamma was not taught during the time of the Buddha, the four units arising due to tanha were only referred to as ‘upādāya rūpa.’

P.S. The word ‘upādāya‘ is related to ‘upādāna‘ and thus, tanha.

• This reply was modified 3 days ago by Lal.

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Tobias G

[Tobias G]

Can you explain the word components of ‘upādāya‘ and ‘upādāna‘? The “upā”-part is in both words.

The other question is, how could the disciples figure out or put together the Abhidhamma theory 200 years after the Buddha’s passing? I would think a Buddha is needed to see and explain all those details.

[Lal]

 Here, “upa” and “dāna” are the key terms. They mean “keeping close” and “to give.” As we know, “dāna, sila, bhāvanā” are key components of Buddhist living.

• Then “ādāna” is the opposite of“dāna,” i.e., to “receive or get,”
• Thus,  ‘upādāna‘ (“upa” + “ādāna”) is to “pull toward oneself” or “keep close to oneself.” Furthermore, “upādāya” means “to help or assist with the ‘upādāna‘ process. Thus, “upādāya rupa” helps with inducing craving.
• ‘Upādāna‘ is triggered by taṇhā. In Paticca Samuppada, “taṇhā paccayā upādāna.” 

__________

Tobias asked; ” how could the disciples figure out or put together the Abhidhamma theory 200 years after the Buddha’s passing? “

• You perhaps did not read the post “Abhidhamma – Introduction.” Please do so. 
• Keep in mind that the Buddha explained the Abhidhamma framework to Ven. Sariputta in detail; you need to read that post.
• Furthermore, those bhikkhus were all Arahants. Abhidhamma was finalized at the Third Buddhist Council (roughly 200 years after the Buddha), and the whole Tipitaka was written down only about 500 years after the Buddha (again by all Arahants).

P.S. Compiling the Abhidhamma theory is not an easy task. I read somewhere the following analogy. Using the Sutta Pitaka to attain Nibbana is like making a cake with a recipe, where one starts with the raw ingredients—like flour and sugar.  In Abhidhamma, one can also explain the composition of flour and sugar at the atomic/molecular level. 

• This reply was modified 2 days ago by Lal.

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Tobias G

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