Kalapas

In Theravada Buddhist phenomenology, Kalapas are defined as the smallest units of physical matter.[1] Kalapas are described as tiny units of materiality, “tens of thousands of times smaller than a particle of dust,” coming into existence and disappearing in as little as a billionth of a second or a trillionth of the blink of an eye.[2][3] Kalapas are understood by some Therevada thinkers as actual subatomic particles and the smallest units of materiality.[4][5]

Kalapas are not mentioned in the earliest Buddhists texts, such as the Tripitaka, but only in the Abhidhammattha Saïgaha, an Abhidhamma commentary that was composed between the 5th and 11th centuries.[6] They are not universally accepted in Theravada Buddhism, and the Buddha never directly speaks of kalapas.[7]

According to the description found in the Abhidhammattha Saïgaha, Kalapas are said to be invisible under normal circumstances but visible as a result of meditative samadhi.[8] Kalapas are composed of eight inseparable elements of material essence in varying amounts which are:[9]

The first four elements are called primary qualities, and are predominant in kalapas. The other four are secondary properties that derive from the primaries.[10] Certain kalapas are said to also include additional elements, including sound, sex, body, mind-base and life.[11][12] In contemporary Buddhist meditation practice, the observation and analysis of kalapas is a type of vipassana practice that aims to allow direct observation of impermanence and non-self.[13][14] Contemporary adherents of practices related to the observation and analysis of kalapas include U Ba Khin, S.N. Goenka and Pa Auk Sayadaw.[15][16][17] Mahasi Sayadaw expressed a belief that kalapas played a role in aging, death and rebirth.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Kornfield, Jack (1977, 1996), Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters, Shambhala p.316
  2. ↑ Kornfield, Jack (1977, 1996), Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters, Shambhala p. 240
  3. ↑ Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.109
  4. ↑ Rasmussen, Tina and Snyder, Stephen (2009) Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration as Presented by Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, Shambhala p.126
  5. ↑ Kornfield, Jack (1977, 1996), Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters, Shambhala, p.239
  6. ↑ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1245/Abhidhammattha-sangaha
  7. ↑ Titmuss, Christopher Dharma E-News, July–October 2010, p. 12 Archived July 25, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Shankman, Robert (2008), The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation, Shambhala, p. 178
  9. ↑ Anuruddhàcariya, Bhadanta, trans. By Thera, Nàrada Mahà (1979) A Manual of Abhidhamma: Abhidhammattha Saïgaha of Bhadanta Anuruddhàcariya Buddhist Missionary Society, p.320
  10. ↑ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
  11. ↑ Mendis, N.K.G. (2006-2011), The Abhidhamma in Practice The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
  12. ↑ Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.267
  13. ↑ Rasmussen, Tina and Snyder, Stephen (2009) Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration as Presented by Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, Shambhala p.127
  14. ↑ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
  15. ↑ Goenka, S.N. (2000) The Discourse Summaries, Vipassana Research Publications, p. 131
  16. ↑ Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.125
  17. ↑ U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma" The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
  18. ↑ Sayadaw, Mahasi (March 1982) PATICCASAMUPPADA, Buddhasasana Nuggaha Organization

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