The Matrix from the Abstract Teaching

[The Pairs Matrix]

[The Roots Collection] I have included the headings at the beginning of the section they refer to in order to clarify what follows. They appear only as end-titles in Dhs.

[1] Thoughts that are roots, thoughts that are not roots

[2] Thoughts that are connected with roots, thoughts that are unconnected with roots

[3] Thoughts that are associated with roots, thoughts that are unassociated with roots

[4] Thoughts that are roots and connected with roots, thoughts that are connected with roots (but) are not roots

[5] Thoughts that are roots and associated with roots, thoughts that are associated with roots (but) are not roots

[6] Thoughts that are not roots but are connected with roots, thoughts that are unconnected with roots

The Roots Collection

[The Lesser Pairs]

[7] Thoughts with causes, thoughts without causes

[8] Thoughts that are conditioned, thoughts that are not conditioned

[9] Thoughts that are visible, thoughts that are not visible.

[10] Thoughts that are impingements, thoughts that are not impingements.

[11] Thoughts that have form, thoughts that are formless.

[12] Thoughts that are mundane, thoughts that are supermundane.

[13] Thoughts that are perceptible in one way, thoughts that are not perceptible in another way.

The Lesser Pairs

[The Pollutants Collection]

[14] Thoughts that are pollutants, thoughts that are not pollutants. In the Abhidhamma there are listed as four: the pollutants of sense-desire (kāmāsava); (desiring) continuation (bhavāsava); (wrong) views (diṭṭhāsava) and ignorance (avijjāsava); in the discourses wrong views is normally left out.

[15] Thoughts that are connected with pollutants, thoughts that are unconnected with pollutants.

[16] Thoughts that are associated with pollutants, thoughts that are unassociated with pollutants.

[17] Thoughts that are pollutants and are connected with pollutants, thoughts that are connected with pollutants but are not pollutants.

[18] Thoughts that are pollutants and associated with pollutants, thoughts that are associated with pollutants but are not pollutants.

[19] Thoughts that are unassociated with pollutants but are connected with pollutants, thoughts that are unconnected with pollutants.

The Pollutants Collection

[The Fetters Collection]

[20] Thoughts that are fetters, thoughts that are not fetters. Normally ten fetters are mentioned: embodiment view (sakkāyadiṭṭhi), doubt (vicikicchā), grasping at virtue and practices (sīlabbataparāmāsa), passion for sensuality (kāmarāga), ill-will (vyāpāda), passion for the form worlds (rūparāga), passion for the formless worlds (arūparāga), conceit (māna), agitation (uddhacca) and ignorance (avijjā).

[21] Thoughts that are favourable to the fetters, thoughts that are unfavourable to the fetters.

[22] Thoughts that are associated with the fetters, thoughts that are unassociated with the fetters.

[23] Thoughts that are fetters and favourable to the fetters, thoughts that are favourable to the fetters but are not fetters.

[24] Thoughts that are fetters and associated with fetters, thoughts that are associated with fetters but are not fetters.

[25] Thoughts that are unassociated with fetters but are favourable to the fetters, thoughts that are unfavourable to the fetters.

The Fetters Collection

[The Knots Collection]

[26] Thoughts that are knots, thoughts that are not knots There are four: the knots of avarice (abhijjhā); ill-will (vyāpāda); grasping at virtue and practices (sīlabbataparāmāsa); adherence to 'this is the truth' (idaṁsaccābhinivesa).

[27] Thoughts that are favourable to the knots, thoughts that are unfavourable to the knots

[28] Thoughts that are associated with knots, thoughts that are unassociated with knots

[29] Thoughts that are knots and favourable to the knots, thoughts that are favourable to the knots but are not knots

[30] Thoughts that are knots and associated with knots, thoughts that are associated with knots but are not knots

[31] Thoughts that are unconnected with knots but favourable to the knots, thoughts that are unfavourable to the knots

The Knots Collection

[The Floods Collection]

[32] Thoughts that are floods, thoughts that are not floods These are the similar to the pollutants above: the floods of sense-desire (kāmogha), (desiring) continuation (bhavogha), (wrong) views (diṭṭhogha) and ignorance (avijjogha).

[33] Thoughts that are favourable to the floods, thoughts that are unfavourable to the floods

[34] Thoughts that are associated with floods, thoughts that are unassociated with floods

[35] Thoughts that are floods and favourable to the floods, thoughts that are favourable to the floods but are not floods

[36] Thoughts that are floods and associated with floods, thoughts that are associated with floods but are not floods

[37] Thoughts that are unassociated with floods but favourable to the floods, thoughts that are unfavourable to the floods

The Floods Collection

[The Yokes Collection]

[38] Thoughts that are yokes, thoughts that are not yokes These are the similar to the pollutants above: the yokes of sense-desire (kāmayoga), (desiring) continuation (bhavayoga), (wrong) views (diṭṭhiyoga) and ignorance (avijjāyoga).

[39] Thoughts that are favourable to the yokes, thoughts that are unfavourable to the yokes

[40] Thoughts that are associated with yokes, thoughts that are unassociated with yokes

[41] Thoughts that are yokes and favourable to the yokes, thoughts that are favourable to the yokes but are not yokes

[42] Thoughts that are yokes and associated with yokes, thoughts that are associated with yokes but are not yokes

[43] Thoughts that are unassociated with yokes but favourable to the yokes, thoughts that are unfavourable to the yokes

The Yokes Collection

[The Hindrances Collection]

[44] Thoughts that are hindrances, thoughts that are not hindrances Five in number: sensual desire (kāmacchanda), ill-will (vyāpāda), sloth and torpor (thīnamiddha), agitation and worry (uddhaccakukkucca), skeptical doubt (vicikicchā).

[45] Thoughts that are favourable to the hindrances, thoughts that are unfavourable to the hindrances

[46] Thoughts that are associated with hindrances, thoughts that are unassociated with hindrances

[47] Thoughts that are hindrances and favourable to the hindrances, thoughts that are favourable to the hindrances but are not hindrances

[48] Thoughts that are hindrances and associated with hindrances, thoughts that are associated with hindrances but are not hindrances

[49] Thoughts that are unassociated with hindrances but favourable to the hindrances, thoughts that are unfavourable to the hindrances

The Hindrances Collection

[The Adherences Collection]

[50] Thoughts that are adherences, thoughts that are not adherences These are defined as being adherence to the wrong views that the world is eternal or not eternal; finite or infinite; the soul and the body are the same or not the same; the individual exists or doesn't exist after death; the individual both exists and does not exist after death or neither exists nor does not exist after death.

[51] Thoughts that are adhered to, thoughts that are not adhered to Aṭṭhasālinī: because of their taking objects with adherence (there is) adherence to, (therefore) adhered to (is said).

[52] Thoughts that are associated with adherences, thoughts that are unassociated with adherences

[53] Thoughts that are adherences and adhered to, thoughts that are adhered to but are not adherences

[54] Thoughts that are unassociated with adherences but adhered to, thoughts that are not adhered to This doesn't quite follow the same scheme as the other defilements set out above, following which we might have expected: thoughts that are adherences and associated with adherences, etc. because the adherences have only one object, (wrong) view (diṭṭhi). I owe this explanation to Bhikkhu Bodhi.

The Adherences Collection

[The Greater Pairs]

[55] Thoughts that are with sense-objects, thoughts that are without sense-objects

[56] Thoughts that are consciousness, thoughts that are not consciousness

[57] Thoughts that are mental factors, thoughts that are not mental factors

[58] Thoughts that are associated with mind, thoughts that are unassociated with mind

[59] Thoughts that are joined with mind, thoughts that are not joined with mind

[60] Thoughts that are produced by mind, thoughts that are not produced by mind

[61] Thoughts that are developed by mind, thoughts that are not developed by mind

[62] Thoughts that are kept rolling by mind, thoughts that are not kept rolling by mind

[63] Thoughts that are productions produced by mind, thoughts that are not productions produced by mind

[64] Thoughts that are productions that are produced by mind and developed by mind, thoughts that are not productions that are produced by mind and developed by mind

[65] Thoughts that are productions that are produced by mind and kept rolling by mind, thoughts that are not productions that are produced by mind and kept rolling by mind

[66] Thoughts that are internal, thoughts that are external

[67] Thoughts that are derived, thoughts that are not derived

[68] Thoughts that are attached to, thoughts that are not attached to

The Greater Pairs

[The Attachments Collection]

[69] Thoughts that are attachments, thoughts that are not attachments There are four: attachments to sensuality (kāmupādāna), views (diṭṭhupādāna), grasping at virtue and practices (sīlabbatupādāna), self-theories (attavādupādāna).

[70] Thoughts that are favourable to the attachments, thoughts that are unfavourable to the attachments

[71] Thoughts that are associated with the attachments, thoughts that are unassociated with the attachments

[72] Thoughts that are attachments and favourable to the attachments, thoughts that are favourable to the attachments but are not attachments

[73] Thoughts that are attachments and associated with the attachments, thoughts that are associated with the attachments, but are not attachments

[74] Thoughts that are unassociated with the attachments but favourable to the attachments, thoughts that are unfavourable to the attachments

The Attachments Collection

[The Defilements Collection]

[75] Thoughts that are defilements, thoughts that are not defilements The defilements are here defined as ten: greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), delsuion (moha), conceit (māna), (wrong) views (diṭṭhi), doubt (vicikicchā), sloth (thīna), agitation (uddhacca), lack of conscience (ahirīka), lack of shame (anottappa).

[76] Thoughts that are connected with the defilements, thoughts that are unconnected with the defilements

[77] Thoughts that are defiled, thoughts that are not defiled

[78] Thoughts that are associated with the defilements, thoughts that are unassociated with the defilements

[79] Thoughts that are defilements and connected with the defilements, thoughts that are connected with the defilements, but are not defilements

[80] Thoughts that are defilements and defiled, thoughts that are defiled (but) are not defilements

[81] Thoughts that are defilements and associated with the defilements, thoughts that are associated with defilements but are not defilements

[82] Thoughts that are unassociated with defilements but connected with the defilements, thoughts that are unconnected with the defilements

The Defilements Collection

[The End Pairs]

[83] Thoughts that are to be given up through vision (of the First Path), thoughts that are not to be given up through vision (of the First Path)

[84] Thoughts that are to be given up through development (of the rest of the Paths), thoughts that are not to be given up through development (of the rest of the Paths)

[85] Thoughts that are roots that are to be given up through vision (of the First Path), thoughts that are not roots that are to be given up through vision (of the First Path).

[86] Thoughts that are roots that are to be given up through development (of the rest of the Paths), thoughts that are not roots that are to be given up through development (of the rest of the Paths).

[87] Thoughts that are with thinking, thoughts that are without thinking

[88] Thoughts that are with reflection, thoughts that are without reflection

[89] Thoughts that are connected with joyful interest, thoughts that are unconnected with joyful interest

[90] Thoughts that are united with joyful interest, thoughts that are not united with joyful interest

[91] Thoughts that are united with pleasure, thoughts that are not united with pleasure

[92] Thoughts that are united with equanimity, thoughts that are not united with equanimity

[93] Thoughts that are (connected with) the sensual realms, thoughts that are not (connected with) the sensual realms

[94] Thoughts that are (connected with) the form realms, thoughts that are not (connected with) the form realms

[95] Thoughts that are (connected with) the formless realms, thoughts that are not (connected with) the formless realms

[96] Thoughts that are included, thoughts that are unincluded Aṭṭhasālinī: included means: included in, contained in, the round of the three grounds (of existence); unincluded means not being included therein.

[97] Thoughts that lead out, thoughts that do not lead out

[98] Thoughts that are fixed, thoughts that are not fixed

[99] Thoughts that are surpassable, thoughts that are unsurpassable

[100] Thoughts that are with faults, thoughts that are without faults

The End Pairs

last updated: October 2011