Updates to Paramattha
Just for those who started reading Paramattha but never went beyond the Paṭṭhāna section — I have now added little exercises to the end of each Paṭṭhāna condition so you…
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16/05/2026
A Critique of the Binary: Ultimate vs. Relative Truth in Buddhist Philosophy
Is "ultimate truth" a static, abstract inventory of the universe, or is it something more personal and profound? In this insightful essay, Bhikkhu Dhammananda challenges the rigid binary between "ultimate" and "relative" truth, a cornerstone of traditional Abhidhamma. He argues that by prioritizing abstract doctrines, we risk devaluing the very territory of our lived experience—our relationships, our ethics, and our personal growth. Drawing on the five niyāmas (natural laws), he proposes a powerful alternative: a developmental model where truth is a moving horizon. What is "ultimate" is not what is most fundamental, but what is most relevant to our current stage of being. This essay offers a compelling vision of philosophy not as a collection of facts, but as a practical path to seeing more clearly and becoming more whole.
12/04/2026
Beyond the Moment: Rethinking Impermanence as Conditional Duration
A philosophical critique of the Abhidhamma doctrine of momentariness. This paper proposes "Conditional Duration" as a more practical framework for understanding impermanence and continuity in meditation and daily life.
22/01/2026
New Companion Booklet to Paramattha
Introducing a practical companion to Paramattha, which explores the Abhidhamma through the Four Paramatthas and the twenty-four Paṭṭhāna conditions as principles shaping lived experience.
02/01/2026
Meditation on the Four Elements – A Practical Guide
Join me for a practical Dhamma talk exploring meditation on the four elements. This talk offers step‑by‑step guidance, body‑scanning techniques, and reflections on how awareness of and work with the elements can reveal inner vision and strength.
15/11/2025
Free Will and Destiny in Buddhism
When people ask about free will and destiny, they often want a simple answer: Do we really have free will, or is everything already determined? In Buddhism, the answer is…
25/09/2025
Why Impermanence Matters – A Reflection on Vigata Paccaya (Dhamma-talk)
Impermanence is everywhere—in the things we own, in the people we love, in our thoughts and memories, and even in our very character. In this brief talk, I explore Vigata-paccaya,…
05/09/2025
Hierarchy of Values Within: Using the Chakras as a Meditative Framework
The practice of relating spiritual teachings to the body — of locating spiritual ideas within the body — is exceedingly old. It has been practiced in mystical traditions throughout the…
04/09/2025
Videos
The Paṭṭhāna — Jewel of Buddhist Philosophy (Video)
✨ New Video on the Paṭṭhāna ✨ The Paṭṭhāna is the great book of conditional relations in the Abhidhamma—sometimes called the “crown jewel” of Buddhist philosophy. It explains in detail how everything in existence is connected and conditioned.
21/08/2025
Why the Wise Think About Duration Rather Than Momentariness (Talk on Avigata Paccaya)
In this brief Dhamma talk, I explore the idea of “duration”—and why, in many cases, it might be more helpful to reflect on endurance and continuity rather than simply contemplating that all things are momentary phenomena which continuously…
27/05/2025
Videos
The Four Paramattha of Buddhist Philosophy
Buddhist Abhidhamma Philosophy divides all of reality into four ultimate constituents—known as the Four Paramatthas: Matter (Rūpa), Mind (Cetasika), Consciousness (Citta), and Nibbāna. In this short video, I offer a…
24/04/2025
Newest Updates to This Abhidhamma Project
I’m excited to share some important updates about my book Paramattha and my ongoing efforts to make the Dhamma more accessible and engaging for all. Paramattha Now Available in Paperback Paramattha is now…
27/02/2025
Correspondences in Nature and the Power of thinking in Analogies (A Talk on Aññamañña Paccaya)
In this Dhamma talk, I discuss correspondences in nature and how thinking in analogies can be a valuable aid on the path to enlightenment. This talk is part of my…
04/02/2025
The Universality of Sequences (A Talk on Samanantara Paccaya)
In this Dhamma Talk, I explore the ‘Universality of Sequences,’ showing how sequences are a phenomenon that exists throughout existence (broken down into matter, mind, consciousness, and Nibbāna) and are…
01/01/2025
Repetition as a Universal Fact of Existence (The Paṭṭhāna Condition of Repetition)
A talk on Repetition as a universal fact of existence. Part of my Patthana series, in this talk I explore the Paṭṭhāna condition of Repetition, Āsevana Paccaya. As usual I…
22/11/2024
Basics of Buddhist Philosophy (Abhidhamma) – 2 Talks
These are two short talks on the basics of Abhidhamma. I hope you find them insightful and helpful in understanding these fundamental concepts. The first talk, “The Vocabulary of Insight,”…
13/08/2024
Pañca Niyāma – The Five Niyāma of Buddhism
The idea of having a system that can help to comprehend the entirety of existence has intrigued mankind for millennia. This very idea was, in fact, what in ancient times…
16/07/2024
The Four Elements of Wisdom – Dhamma Talk MP3
The wisdom of the elements And their almost sacred dance Their nature, danger, usefulness, The need for them for truthfulness This all here is seeked to get explored And to…
09/07/2024
Wisdom of the elements
From Greece, to Native America, from Egypt to India, the idea of four fundamental elements which form the foundation for understanding the natural world, is so universal, that a study of them might be an not unrewarding pursuit.
14/05/2024
The Body as an Object for Meditation
If you but seek'st enlightenment;first it's opposite must comprehend.But what is the opposite of spirit?Tis matter whose coarseness is most vivid. But what is matter?, we might ask.Everything, that you…
07/03/2024
The Four Elements
Matter Since time immemorial, or at least since the arising of the first traces of mind, what the mind pays attention to, is what we now call matter. Thus, since…
06/03/2024
The Four Elements as Sense-objects
The Four Elements as Sense-objects Usually, these four elements first will have to be apprehended through any one of the 5 senses. And through each sense, they are apprehended somewhat…
06/03/2024
Some thoughts about non-self
The topic of non-self is a problematic topic in Buddhism. Often even Buddhist monks will feel a little bit embarrassed when being asked about it. Many a somewhat thinking person…
27/08/2023
Purejāta-Pacchājāta Paccaya – Condition of Latency and Manifestation
The condition wherein things, material or immaterial, exist rather as a potential, without actually being manifest, is what is called a condition of latency. It is the condition of mental…
23/01/2023
Pañca Niyama – Laws of Existence
Five laws that move the way of thingsFive laws from which all wisdom springsFive laws, the quintessence of allFive laws to Cosmic view us callThe law of matter is the…
21/01/2023
Keys to the Abhidhamma System
This blog is an outline of the Buddhist Abhidhamma. Its aim is to show a method of contemplation, giving those who are inclined to meditate on the Abhidhamma, subjects or headings for meditation, all of which point in a definite direction, one subject providing a basis for the next.
19/01/2023
The Buddhist Abhidhamma – The Science of the inner Life
In the ancient world, the wise man was often called the knower of the gods. The gods signifying hidden entities which were believed to be the controlling agents of the…
13/01/2023
Jhāna Paccaya – Condition of Meditation
A condition of meditation, is a condition wherein the mind seeks an escape from matter. Meditation is about finding the middle path. And this applies also to our familiar consideration…
07/01/2023
Improving Nature to transcend Suffering-Cycles
Nature is cyclical and moody. Sometimes she gives, sometimes she takes…Man’s inner nature too is cyclical and moody. Yet, to some degree man has proven a capacity to move beyond certain cycles, into a direction not indicated by nature
04/01/2023
Acquiring Knowledge
Now let’s talk about practical matters. The Abhidhamma system may indeed be used for an almost infinite amount of things. Principally should the study of this system give a person…
03/01/2023
Is Rebirth immediate?
In Buddhism there is a bit of a quarrel amongst different schools in regards to the question of rebirth. The question being as to whether there is a gap between…
02/01/2023
♥️ / Meditation
Jhana in Practice
Here an example of the relevance of understanding the proper foundations upon which the mind may function. Besides, this example also illustrates the meaning of the Jhāna factors in actual…
02/01/2023
Images
A Small Outline of Consciousness
This is just a small overview, to give some basic understanding about consciousness for the purpose of easier study of the mind. For the broader picture in which the information…
02/01/2023
Kamma, Meditation and Rebirth
For a Buddhist practitioner, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the law of kamma, is one of the essential things to aim at. So, here a small elucidation of this very…
01/01/2023
Aññamañña Paccaya – Condition of Correspondence
Wherever two (or more) phenomena possess similar characteristics, a correspondence between these two phenomena can be seen. And whatever is known about one of them may also hold true for…
01/01/2023
Continuity
Sometimes people studying Buddhism, especially in relation to the vipassanā schools, end up with some conclusion that there is no continuity in mental and material phenomena…So here we want to…
01/01/2023
Kamma Paccaya, Vipāka Paccaya – Condition of Intentional Acts and their Results
Kamma as a Paṭṭhāna condition, refers to the condition wherein actions, but more specifically mental acts of will or intention are acting as a cause to produce some particular result…
28/12/2022
♥️ / Meditation
Attraction and Unity
Here an example of how some understanding of the physiological processes and mental sequences described throughout this website, may be used to describe a meditative process of overcoming some personal…
24/12/2022
Ancient Methods of attaining Knowledge ‐ Abhidhamma and Astrology
"When I the starry courses know, And Nature's wise instruction seek, With light of power my soul shall glow, As when with spirits spirits speak." Since ancient times, there have…
23/12/2022
Five Spiritual Faculties
Every person who through proficiency in some skill rises himself up above his fellow human beings, does so through having found some way of cultivating a dynamic interaction of these…
02/12/2022
Samanantara Paccaya – Condition of Sequences
A sequence is a chain of things or events, following one after another. Thus, the crux of this condition is to describe, that there is a certain progression as to…
14/10/2022
Paramattha- On Ultimate Truth
Concepts and Ultimate truth Phenomena are ever only phenomena, words and concepts are ever only words and concepts. But if we possess a word or concept, which has for us…
14/10/2022
Ever Mind – Abhidhamma Considerations regarding the Mind
Bhavanga (that wherein one's existence is rooted), includes, so we believe, also blind (unconscious) emotions...wandering thoughts and dreams. All those we take to be the vibrating bhavanga ...which have to…
14/10/2022
Transformation of Emotions
An image sometimes says more than a thousand words. These few images are just meant to show how meditation and the workings of the mind may be visualised, and hence…
14/10/2022
Philosophical Notes on Vithi
The Vithi model shows the mind as a sequence and depicts the order by which mental phenomena occur. Apart from that, it indicates, that certain aspects of cognition/ of processing…
14/10/2022
Breaking Bonds
A human being is a social being,…that is why one of the major sources of human suffering arises through the interaction with other human beings. So, especially people seeking to…
14/10/2022
What is Bīja Niyāma?
Bīja Niyama is the law of organic life. Bīja literally means 'seed', in the sense of 'germ of life'. Thus, Bīja Niyama, is essentially the law that governs the growth…
14/10/2022
Intuition
Based on knowledge, there may arise a certain faculty, that can perceive a myriad things at one singular glance. This faculty may be termed intuition. It is, when a mind…
14/10/2022
Bhumis – Planes of Existence
As a person grows in purity, slowly an understanding of the difference between body and mind begins to develop. Hence, the mind becoming purified, perceives itself as an entity apart…
14/10/2022
Teachings on Matter
The 4 Elements The four elements were known to most cultures of the past (although in some cultures there were 5). To get any handle on matter, making it an…
14/10/2022
The Problem of Good and Evil
Good begets good, bad begets bad. Most people, at the very least have heard such saying. Yet, although there may be situations in life where it is quite obvious what…
14/10/2022
Application of the Knowledge of the 5 Niyamas
Once a person has acquired an understanding of the Niyāma, he may order each item of importance under the functionings of those natural laws. That is, how anything that he…
14/10/2022
The Mental process in Human Development
For gaining a clearer understanding about the mental process, we might consider about it in the light of human development and its relation to the higher faculties. Example: A person…
14/10/2022
Insight into Rebirth Conditions leading to the lower Realms of Existence
It is usually the lack of capacity of an organism and the higher faculties to respond to higher ideas and positive (or attractive) sense-impressions, that will lead a person to…
14/10/2022
Concepts 2
A concept is a synthesis of mind-objects (bits of information) arrived at through mental processing. Through processing the objects of the 5 senses, as well as through learning, the mind…
14/10/2022
Nissaya Paccaya – Condition of Foundations
In life, all things build up on some foundation. Everything somewhat stands on something. And this is what defines this condition. In matters of the four elements, this condition is…
14/10/2022
Ārammaṇa Paccaya – Condition of Objects
Ārammana, usually translated as objects, may more accurately be thought of as supports of the mind (and the senses). Thus, this condition is describing any relation between mind or matter…
14/10/2022
Citta Niyāma – The Law of Mentation
Citta Niyāma is the law of mind. It is the law that governs the appearance and sequence in regard to mental phenomena. Even as the coarsest and deadest of matter,…
14/10/2022
Vippayutta Paccaya – Condition of Repulsion
All forces have their counterparts. The reverse of the previous condition, this condition describes how and why mental and material phenomena repel other mental and material phenomena. Antagonisms, conflicts, wars,…
14/10/2022
Hetu Paccaya – Condition of Inner Establishments
Hetu Paccaya, often translated as root condition, is too describe the condition of an inner establishment of mental or material phenomena. There is a twofold classification of roots or inner…
14/10/2022
Indriya Paccaya – Condition of Faculties
Faculties refer to the various capacities and powers a person, or more accurate, mental or material phenomena, may possess. Through past intentions to do, to see, to hear, feel and…
14/10/2022
Adhipati Paccaya – Condition of Reigning /Governing
Adhipati paccaya, reigning or governing condition, describes the condition of one thing, that is either an outer object or condition, or internal mental factors, such as desire, exertion, investigation or…
14/10/2022
Sahajāta Paccaya – Condition of Synchronicity
Wherever mental or material phenomena exist in a relation of synchronous alignment, they will share certain qualities with each other. All such phenomena are grouped under this relation. In ordinary…
14/10/2022
Kamma Niyāma – The Law of Kamma
Kamma Niyāma - The Law of Kamma Kamma Niyāma is the law of will or intention. Whenever the mind based on previous investigation and classification (of some sense-sphere phenomena) is…
14/10/2022
Meditation on The Four Elements
Should a person desire to practice Four Elements meditation as a subject for establishing mindfulness, he should frequently recite to himself the names of the primary elements and further on,…
14/10/2022
♥️ / Meditation
The Life of Music
An Example of developing the Spiritual Faculties Then, we of course also want to use the Abhidhamma system to develop our spiritual powers. There are countless ways to apply it…
14/10/2022
What is a Nimitta?
A nimitta is a sign, that indicates, that the meditator has gained some amount of concentration. Principally is any sign of concentration a nimitta. Hence, there may be just a…
14/10/2022
Ahāra Paccaya – Condition of Fuel or Nutriment
Nutriment or Fuel condition refers to the way in which a particular physical thing or mental state or process is supported in its further growth. Most people will have had…
13/10/2022
Avigata Paccaya – Condition of Retention or Lastingness
All phenomena in manifest existence posses some amount of duration, long or short. The continuation of certain characteristics that occur in the course of that duration, is what is called…
13/10/2022
Learning and what Hinders it
Conceiving of a past and a future and a good and a bad, the mind seeks to make more often decisions that assure a greater 'good' in the vaster space…
13/10/2022
Vigata Paccaya – Condition of Dissolution and Destruction
All phenomena sooner or later come to a condition of fading, dying and disappearance. And becoming thus, they are instances of this condition. This condition may perhaps equally be translated…
13/10/2022
Upanissaya Paccaya – Condition of Interdependence
No phenomenon is a single isolated unit. All things are interrelated. And being thus, the condition of one thing depends on the conditions of various other things. Using the consideration…
13/10/2022
Āsevana Paccaya – Condition of Repetition
The term Āsevana means both repetition and practice. Repetition is what establishes, makes strong and develops, both in regards to mind and matter. And, in its own boundaries, whatever it…
13/10/2022
Atthi Paccaya, Natthi Paccaya – Condition of Presence and Condition of Absence
Presence Condition (or condition of being) is referring to the existence of mental and material phenomena in the limited space of the "Now". While the condition of absence is referring…
13/10/2022
Magga Paccaya- Condition of Paths
When conscious processing is pointing in a certain direction, in that the mind's choices become more consistent, consciousness gets established on a certain path. Yet, this Path-condition refers not only…
13/10/2022
Physiology of a Celibate’s Demon
Now, our body needs nutriment. When we eat our food, that food gets digested in the stomach and then send further downward to the lower intestines. Along our spine, there…
13/10/2022
Physiology of the Pathway to Heaven
Here I want to show, higher meditation experiences usually will only occur, when at least part of some higher Dhamma knowledge has become intuitive. Below I give one example of…
01/10/2022
Kamma-born Matter
Whenever you say something, and later, whenever you think something,...you have to feel into the body, as to whether it is true or not...the body is closely connected with the…
30/09/2022
The Vithi in Meditation
Some insight into the process and the terms If an disturbing object enters the domain of the 5 senses...the meditator might have to advert his mind towards it...investigating it, he…
25/09/2022
Notes on Iddhi Padas (Roads to Success)
If while observing yourself and remembering your dhamma practice, you of and on formulate a desire, such as 'may I realize, what I have not yet realized', or more concretely…
17/09/2022
Dissatisfaction
I don't see what the future holdsThe past gives me no guidanceToday, tomorrow, any day, seem pointless, useless, anywaySo what then can I say...If the Reaper were to comeThe last…
14/09/2022
Acting from a higher Plane
In normal conditions regarding good ideas,... a good idea arises at your mind-door, and then the mind immediately lapses into the life-continuum, which afterwards vibrates, stirring you to action. Even…
13/08/2022
Mind dependent on Body
All external events count as objects, first of the 5 sense‐bases, than of the mind, therefore without mastering the environment first (for a bhikkhu, the bhikkhus training and way of…
22/07/2022
Stages of Meditative Development in regards to Body and Mind
Concrete body....(42 body parts, 4 elements, etc.) ...things are seperated by space and time... ...things do not posses any meaning....just bare meaningless phenomena ...this is the sphere of the earth...it…
16/07/2022
Dhamma Niyāma – The Law of Holiness
As choices become more consistent and as the mind becomes more capable of making intelligent kammical calculations that are in alignment with those choices, individuality reaches its peak. Ultimately the…
13/07/2022
Illustrations
Bīja Niyāma – The Law of Organic Life
Bīja literally means ‘seed’, in the sense of ‘germ of life’. Thus this law of Bīja Niyāma, is essentially the law that governs the growth of organic life…from the smallest…
13/07/2022
Practical Application of the Patthana Conditions
The Paṭṭhāna, in traditional Buddhist countries often thought of as the quintessence of the Buddha’s wisdom, is on the other hand amongst Buddhists of the non-traditional type more often rather…
13/07/2022
Anantara Paccaya – Condition of Combinations
A combination is a coming together of various elements, material or immaterial, to form a new whole. In fact, the whole universe is but a combination of elements. But to…
13/07/2022
Conditions of Emotions using the Abhidhamma method
Emotion Emotions are the first stirrings of a latent mind seeking manifestation For doing work with/ for collaborating with some of the good forces of this universe,…big or small…we’d better…
13/07/2022
What is Rūpa?
The word rūpa is the Buddhist word for anything material. But in Abhidhamma philosophy the material world is considered in a very specific manner, which is productive of liberating oneself…
06/07/2022
Short Thoughts and Unclear Thinking
Does it sometimes happen to you, that you have a great idea or a good thought in general, or perhaps even an answer to a question that was for long…
06/07/2022
Notes on Mental Process
By determining and classifying the objects received from the 5 senses...man makes first steps in delineating his environment...through thinking he is mastering it and through registration he is taking it…
15/04/2022
Understanding Patthāna
Although systems like the Abhidhamma might have had infinitely more relevance...were infinitely more valuable and important before the advent of the commonality of books...still even today many people find them…
14/02/2022
The Patthāna
Beware that this is a rather old post, one of the first ones perhaps, so some of it might need to be revised. For a better understanding of what the…
13/02/2022