GUIDE TO TIPITAKA

The Dhammasa³ga¼ø, the Vibha³ga and the Dhætukathæ examine the Dhamma and their classifications as they exist in the world of reality, named Sa³khæraloka. Puggalapaññatti and Kathævatthu deal with beings and individuals which also exist in their own world of apparent reality, known as Sattaloka. Where the dhamma of Sa³khæraloka and beings of the Sattaloka co-exist is termed the Okæsaloka. Yamaka sets out to define and analyse the interrelationship of dhammas and puggalas as they exist in these three worlds.

This is accomplished in the form of pairs of questions, which gives it the title of Yamaka. The logical process of conversion (anuloma) and complete inversion (pa¥iloma) is applied to determine the complete import and limit of a term in its relationship with the others. An equivocal nature of a term (saµsaya) is avoided by showing, through such arrangement of questions, how other meanings of the term do not fit for a particular consideration.

The following pairs of questions may be taken as an example:

To the question ‘May all rþpa be called Rþpakkhanda?’ the answer is ‘Rþpa is also used in such expressions as piya rþpa (loveable nature), eva rþpa (of such nature), but there it does not mean Rþpakkhandha.’

But to the question ‘May all Rþpakkhandha be called rþpa?’ the answer is ‘yes’, because Rþpakkhandha is a very wide term and includes such terms as piya rþpa, eva rþpa etc.