Dhammasangani
| Pāli Canon |
|---|
| Vinaya Pitaka |
| Sutta Pitaka |
| Abhidhamma Pitaka |
The Dhammasangani (-saṅgaṇi or -ī) is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism, where it is included in the Abhidhamma Pitaka.
The book begins with a matika (Pali for "matrix"), which is a list of classifications of dhammas, variously translated as ideas, phenomena, states, patterns etc. There are 22 3-fold classifications, followed by 100 2-fold ones according to the abhidhamma method and 42 according to the sutta method.
Format
The main body of the book is in four parts, as follows.
- The first part deals with states of mind, listing and defining factors present in them.
- The second deals with material phenomena, classifying them numerically, by ones, twos etc.
- The third part applies the material in the first two to explaining the classifications in the matika.
- The fourth does likewise, but in a different and sometimes more detailed way, and omitting the sutta method 2-fold classifications. This fourth part is mostly omitted from the old translation, only a few extracts being included. The new translation is complete.
Rhys Davids (1900) divisions of the text are as follows:
| Book I. The Genesis of Thoughts (cittuppaada- ka.n.da.m) |
Part I. Good States of Consciousness |
Ch. I. The Eight Main Types of Thought relating to the Sensuous Universe (kaamaavacara-a.t.tha-mahaacittaani) Ch. II. Good in relation to the Universe of Form (ruupaavacara-kusala.m) |
| Part II. Bad States of Consciousness |
Ch. VI. The Twelve Bad Thoughts (dvaadasa akusalacittaani) | |
| Part III. Indeterminate States of Consciousness |
Ch. I. On Effect, or Result (vipaako): A. Good Karma. B. Bad Karma Ch. II. Action-thoughts (kiriyaa) | |
| Book II. Form (ruupa- ka.n.da.m) |
[No parts] | Ch. I. Exposition of Form under Single Concepts (ekaka-niddeso) Ch. II. Categories of Form under Dual Aspects — positive and negative |
| Book III. The Division Entitled 'Elimination' (nikkhepa- ka.n.da.m) |
Part I. [No title] |
Ch. I. The Group of Triplets (tika.m) Ch. II. The Group on Cause (hetu-gocchaka.m) |
| Part II. The Suttanta Pairs of Terms (suttantika-duka.m) |
[No chapter titles] |
Translations
Several English translations are available,including:
- The Dhammasangani, edited by Edward Müller, 1885, published for the Pali Text Society, by H. Frowde in London
- A Buddhist Manual of Psychological Ethics, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, Royal Asiatic Society, 1900; reprinted with corrections, Pali Text Society,[1] Bristol
- Tr U Kyaw Khine, Department for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana, Rangoon, ?1996; reprinted by Sri Satguru Pubns, Delhi, 2 volumes