Dhamma Topics and their Analysis

Abstract Topics



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22. Dvekāmā
22. The Two (Aspects of) Sense Desires

from Mahāniddesapāḷi

Dve kāmā:
There are two (aspects of) sense desires: This is a proto-Abhidhamma text, and indeed shares many of the same definitions as are found in the Abhidhamma texts proper.

1. Vatthukāmā ca,
1. Sense desire for objects,

2. kilesakāmā ca.
2. and sense desire as defilements.

1. Katame vatthukāmā?
1. What is sense desire for objects?

Manāpikā rūpā,
(Desire for) pleasing forms,

manāpikā saddā,
pleasing sounds,

manāpikā gandhā,
pleasing smells,

manāpikā rasā,
pleasing tastes,

manāpikā phoṭṭhabbā;
pleasing tangibles;

attharaṇā, pāvuraṇā,
spreads, shawls,

dāsidāsā,
male and female servants,

ajeḷakā, kukkuṭasūkarā,
goats, chickens and pigs,

hatthigavāssavaḷavā;
elephants, cows, horses, mares;

khettaṁ, vatthu,
fields, lands,

hiraññaṁ, suvaṇṇaṁ,
silver, gold,

gāmanigamarājadhāniyo raṭṭhañ-ca janapado ca,
villages, towns, capital cities, kingdoms, countries,

koso ca koṭṭhāgārañ-ca,
stores and treasuries,

yaṁ kiñci rajanīyaṁ vatthu, vatthukāmā.
whatever enticing objects there are, these are the objects of sense desires.

Api ca atītā kāmā, anāgatā kāmā, paccuppannā kāmā;
Furthermore, past sense desires, future sense desires, present sense desires;

ajjhattā kāmā, bahiddhā kāmā, ajjhattabahiddhā kāmā;
internal sense desires, external sense desires, internal and external sense desires;

hīnā kāmā, majjhimā kāmā, paṇītā kāmā;
inferior sense desires, middling sense desires, excellent sense desires;

āpāyikā kāmā, mānusikā kāmā, dibbā kāmā, paccupaṭṭhitā kāmā;
sense desires leading to the downfall, sense desires leading to human state, sense desires leading to the heavenly state, sense desires that are present;

nimmitā kāmā, animmitā kāmā, paranimmitā kāmā;
sense desires having signs, sense desires not having signs, sense desires for the signs of others;

pariggahitā kāmā, apariggahitā kāmā,
sense desires that are possessed, sense desires that are not possessed,

mamāyitā kāmā, amamāyitā kāmā;
sense desires that are cherished, sense desires that are uncherished;

sabbe pi kāmāvacarā dhammā,
all things in the sensuous worlds,

sabbe pi rūpāvacarā dhammā,
all things in the form worlds,

sabbe pi arūpāvacarā dhammā;
all things in the formless worlds;

taṇhāvatthukā, taṇhārammaṇā,
objects of craving, grounds of craving,

kāmanīyaṭṭhena, rajanīyaṭṭhena, madanīyaṭṭhena kāmā.
sense desires that are expected, sense desires that are enticing, sense desires that are intoxicating.

Ime vuccanti vatthukāmā.
These are said to be the sense desires for objects.

2. Katame kilesakāmā?
2. What are sense desires as defilement?

Chando kāmo rāgo kāmo,
Sense desire as impulse, desire, passions,

chandarāgo kāmo;
sense desire as passionate impulse,

saṅkappo kāmo, rāgo kāmo, saṅkapparāgo kāmo.
sense desire as thought, sense desire as passion, sense desire as passionate desire.

Yo kāmesu, kāmacchando, kāmarāgo,
In sense desires, whatever passionate impulse, passionate desire,

kāmanandī, kāmataṇhā,
joy in desire, craving in desire,

kāmasneho, kāmapariḷāho,
affectate desire, feverous desire,

kāmamucchā, kāmajjhosānaṁ,
infatuated desire, cleaving desire,

kāmogho, kāmayogo,
flood of desire, yoke of desire,

kāmupādānaṁ, kāmacchandanīvaraṇaṁ...
attachment to desire, the hindrance of passionate impulse...

Ime vuccanti kilesakāmā.
This is said to be sense desires as defilements.