“To understand means, to understand all,
...to understand only in part, means to not understand at all”
‘The Paṭṭhāna’, traditionally regarded as the quintessence of the Buddha’s wisdom and as the surest proof of his omniscience, is a system which, in mathematical order, seeks to expand the comprehension of matter, mind and consciousness delineated in the main blog of this website, to cover the entirety of existence.
In total there are 24 Paṭṭhāna conditions. And these may perhaps best be thought of as patterns in phenomenal realities (that is in material and mental things). But, as phenomenal realities are so to say the objects a meditator seeks to gain insight in, the Paṭṭhāna may be equally viewed as the grammar of insight. Thus, the Paṭṭhāna is a system which is seeking to reduce the infinite variety of phenomena or the infinite amount of life experiences, to a finite amount of universal realities which follow 24 possible modes or ways of relating to each other.
Sometimes the Paṭṭhāna is also called the system of Synthesis of the Abhidhamma. That is, it is synthesising the basic ideas of what matter, mind and consciousness are, into ideas of growing complexity. And it is doing that, by applying these 24 conditions to them, in quite the same manner as one would apply mathematical operations as plus, minus, division and multiplication to the numbers 0 to 9 in mathematics. Consequently, as such operations in mathematics allow for an infinitely larger use for those numbers, so do the Paṭṭhāna conditions allow for an infinitely larger use for the understanding of mind, matter and consciousness. And it is thus, that the Paṭṭhāna aims at providing the means for comprehending the entirety of existence.
How this is done will be seen below.
A meditator wants to understand everything grounded in his own reality. Therefore his understanding of anything will always start with an observation of matter, mind and consciousness. These are his computer hardware and computer software. And with these, he will learn to measure and calculate everything.
To comprehend the Paṭṭhāna conditions there may be two primary ways of asking an appropriate question. Either, as an example, one may ask: ‘What is the condition of mind, matter and consciousness in a state of meditation (Jhāna Condition)?, or in relation to kamma (Kamma Condition), or in a condition of latency (Purejāta Condition) etc.?’ Or, reflecting on some present condition of mind and matter, one may ask, …’How does this mind-state or physical condition relate to successful meditation (Jhāna Paccaya), or to the establishment of character (Hetu Paccaya)…Or, ‘Is it pointing to Nibbāna?’ (Magga Paccaya), etc.
This will be the primary method, both for attaining a deeper philosophical knowledge of existence, as well as for understanding the ‘how to’ in regards to one’s higher aspirations.
The explanations I give below, are only certain examples of my own understanding, to give to those who study the Abhidhamma system some indications of how to think about these Paṭṭhāna conditions. I’m still working on them, so several will be quite imperfect, which I will try to fix with time.*
Purejāta-Pacchājāta – 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 or material phenomena existing in germ form (the term Purejata literally means pre-nascence).While anything (any phenomena) that already is in existence exists in the condition…
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 start small, comprehending this condition in childlike simplicity, we seek to understand it first in matters of the four elements. Thus we may observe, how…
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 hold true also about the other. That is, any point of contact between two things known, may permit a certain exploration of things unknown, for him who comprehends this…
Upanissaya Paccaya – Condition of Interdependence
No phenomenon is a single isolated unit. All things are in some way interrelated. And being thus, the condition of one thing usually depends on the conditions of various other things. Using the consideration of the four elements again as a basis, we may gain the first grasp of the fundamental nature of this condition.…
Sampayutta Paccaya- Condition of Attraction
Whenever one phenomenon is, by virtue of its own qualities, pulling towards itself another phenomenon, it is called attraction. On all the conceivable scales of life, can there be found this condition of attraction. Matter from the tiniest of particles, to the matter of the whole universe is kept together through the condition of attraction.…
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 (mental or material) in the future. Whereas the condition of Vipāka refers to the result of past actions and intentions, either in the form of…
Magga Paccaya – Condition of Paths
When conscious processing is pointing in a definite direction, in that the mind’s choices become more consistent, consciousness gets established on a certain path. Yet, this Path-condition refers not only to paths brought about through choice, but to any path, brought about through choice or brought about through circumstances, spiritual or worldly, good or evil.…
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 to the opposite, that is, to the non-existence of mental and material phenomena in that limited space of the “Now”. A question about being and…
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 is that is repeated, becomes gradually easier with each repetition. Starting small, beginning again with a consideration of the four elements, we may acquire a…
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 of the four elements. Each of the four elements has its own distinctive qualities, some of which are seeked to be overcome through meditation, while…
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 as ‘going asunder’, ‘falling apart’, ‘moving towards destruction’, or the familiar Buddhist favourite, ‘impermanence’. Old age, sickness, death, loss of property, loss of relatives and…
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 some experience of this condition when their mind was running wild due to having too much fuel from the senses. Traditionally there are 4 kinds…
Samanantara Paccaya – Condition of Sequences
Expressed in matters of the four elements, is the sequence condition, being a forward movement, primarily an aspect of the wind element. But, being a forward movement along definite lines, it may be thought of as the wind element guided by the earth element. Yet, thinking of all the elements in relation to this condition,…
Sampayutta Paccaya (alternative)- Condition of being Sympathetic
Sampayutta Paccaya describes the conjoining-ability of mental and material phenomena. That is a capacity to form a sympathetic relationship or new whole (synthesis). There are definite laws as to what kind of things can exist in a conjoined relationship and what can’t. As for example when the material substance of milk is mixed with water,…
Avigata Paccaya – Condition of Retention or Lastingness
As the great oceans retain their waters without diminishing, or as large civilisations and empires often continue for long periods of time, so do phenomena of all scales at times continue, retaining their primary qualities for long periods of time. Amongst the four elements in the abstract sense, is the element of earth, the element…
Sahajāta Paccaya – Condition of Synchronicity
Whenever two or more phenomena become attuned to each other, they temporarily become more than singular, separate phenomena and may at that time function almost as one. …. When we relate synchronicity to the four elements, we can find only a rather simple dynamic: that of a passive element being receptive to the active nature…
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 thought governing a persons consciousness. For the most part this condition is concerned with conditions on the human scale. Thus, there are five ruling principles,…
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 think (etc.), a being acquires certain material as well as mental faculties. Some of which are designed for the knowing and comprehension of the world…
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 establishments. The first one is along the line of capabilities. The second one is along the line of wholesome and unwholesome. The first root, is…
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, hatred and fear, and even diseases are examples of this condition of repulsion. But why are there conflicts, why are there wars? How can our…
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 (as in the case of sense-base matter) and an supporting object. Any consideration wherein “my house”, “my country”, “my friends”, “my relatives”, “my property” etc.…
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 symbolically represented by the element of earth. But in more concrete terms, at least three of the elements may be seen to act as a…
By learning to comprehend thus the relations of the given classifications of mind and matter, a person may then slowly come into a position to realise the laws governing the entirety of phenomenal existence.
And those will be the Niyamas of which the Buddhist System distinguishes 5, which can be found in another blog (➙click here).
Note: I have made several audio recordings, describing various of the Paṭṭhāna conditions in greater detail. Click here to go to Dhamma-talks
For the method of applying the Paṭṭhāna in meditation practice, one may read the blog on “Practical Application of the Patthana Conditions”
* I admit, that my explanations and often also translations of the Paṭṭhāna conditions are very different from the traditional ones. It took me a long time to conceive of words which appear to be still quite in accordance with the Pali names while being at the same time productive of meaning. Traditionally it is said that although there are 24 Paṭṭhāna conditions, there are at least three pairs, which are identical in meaning and differ only in the letter. The traditional explanations of each of the 24 Paṭṭhāna conditions is no less bizarre and confusing, making the whole system look like as if its only use is to give complicated names to the most arbitrary and petty things. For my take on that, I refer the reader to my blog 'Looking for the meaning'.
Higher Mind Art - Abhidhamma Explorations 
[…] categories converge in one of the Paṭṭhāna conditions which I have elucidated in another blog (click here). Thus, would any condition that would in ordinary terms be called a ‘life-situation’, […]