This is very much still a work in progress.
Two main influences which gave reason for putting this together came from the "Dhammasangani, translated by U Kyaw Khine", which I hear many people say that they always heard that it was such a good translation but they actually have yet to see or read it for themselves due to its scarcity. And the second being the book "Abhidhamma Studies" by Nyanaponika Thera which gives an excellent down to earth, realistic view of the abhidhamma's analyses and conditions that can be used in one's practice here and now. This book was also the inspiration for the grouping of the groups (that also can be found in the Dhammasangani as well as its commentary, Expositor).
Nyanaponika Thera explains this in his closing comments:
"The multiple enumeration, together with the arrangement in groups, shows the internal relations of a factor, that is, its varied connections with other factors present in the same moment of consciousness. These internal relations include such common functions as the controlling function of the faculties; such common purposes as the liberating purpose of the path factors. This implies two postulates of great practical importance: in a state of consciousness a multitude of factors cooperate to achieve a common purpose, whether that be of worldly or spiritual nature; individual qualities that are often wrongly considered to be opposed are actually complementary and thus should not be pitted against each other but brought into harmony."
how to navigate the site
The site is not too complex and is based on the numbering from U Kyaw Khine's translation which you will find slightly to differ from the PTS translation. The section numbers in the Matika and the cetasikas (the pali words) are linked to the appropriate answer and definition. Simply scroll over and click. There is a chart of the cittas and cetasikas that was provided by Ayya Agganyani from "Abhidhamma.com" which I'm greatly thankful for that was modified to highlight the cittas and cetasikas that were just explained in each section etc. The reason for the chart was to try to better bridge the understanding of the Dhammasangani's layout with that of the later more reduced chart from the Abhidhammattha Sangaha that people are more commonly accustomed to reference with. (note: the charts are not all done, this is a work in progress).
changes that were made from the original translation
No real changes have been made other than displaying the "factors at that moment" in groups. I have also simplified the Jhanas to match that of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha, excluding the different methods, colours, ways of training etc. I have chose to only mention the five-fold method of jhana for the same reasons just mentioned above. I have also excluded quite a bit of the full translation (including the whole chapter on rupa, resultants, and all kiriya cittas) because at this point in time I wanted to only focus on the cittas and the way they associate with their associated concomitants for the average person here and now. So overall this more of a snapshot of what the full Dhammasangani is, but its more than enough to get on the way to understanding the workings of one's mind in daily practice towards gaining liberation from samsara.
If you have any comments or suggestions you wish to make free to contact me with the form below.
Two main influences which gave reason for putting this together came from the "Dhammasangani, translated by U Kyaw Khine", which I hear many people say that they always heard that it was such a good translation but they actually have yet to see or read it for themselves due to its scarcity. And the second being the book "Abhidhamma Studies" by Nyanaponika Thera which gives an excellent down to earth, realistic view of the abhidhamma's analyses and conditions that can be used in one's practice here and now. This book was also the inspiration for the grouping of the groups (that also can be found in the Dhammasangani as well as its commentary, Expositor).
Nyanaponika Thera explains this in his closing comments:
"The multiple enumeration, together with the arrangement in groups, shows the internal relations of a factor, that is, its varied connections with other factors present in the same moment of consciousness. These internal relations include such common functions as the controlling function of the faculties; such common purposes as the liberating purpose of the path factors. This implies two postulates of great practical importance: in a state of consciousness a multitude of factors cooperate to achieve a common purpose, whether that be of worldly or spiritual nature; individual qualities that are often wrongly considered to be opposed are actually complementary and thus should not be pitted against each other but brought into harmony."
how to navigate the site
The site is not too complex and is based on the numbering from U Kyaw Khine's translation which you will find slightly to differ from the PTS translation. The section numbers in the Matika and the cetasikas (the pali words) are linked to the appropriate answer and definition. Simply scroll over and click. There is a chart of the cittas and cetasikas that was provided by Ayya Agganyani from "Abhidhamma.com" which I'm greatly thankful for that was modified to highlight the cittas and cetasikas that were just explained in each section etc. The reason for the chart was to try to better bridge the understanding of the Dhammasangani's layout with that of the later more reduced chart from the Abhidhammattha Sangaha that people are more commonly accustomed to reference with. (note: the charts are not all done, this is a work in progress).
changes that were made from the original translation
No real changes have been made other than displaying the "factors at that moment" in groups. I have also simplified the Jhanas to match that of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha, excluding the different methods, colours, ways of training etc. I have chose to only mention the five-fold method of jhana for the same reasons just mentioned above. I have also excluded quite a bit of the full translation (including the whole chapter on rupa, resultants, and all kiriya cittas) because at this point in time I wanted to only focus on the cittas and the way they associate with their associated concomitants for the average person here and now. So overall this more of a snapshot of what the full Dhammasangani is, but its more than enough to get on the way to understanding the workings of one's mind in daily practice towards gaining liberation from samsara.
If you have any comments or suggestions you wish to make free to contact me with the form below.
