Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

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definite forms and shapes since they can be emitted from atoms
as rays. It is more appropriate to regard them as bundles of energy
just as sun light is composed of photons—the basic bundles of
light energy.
Scientists have detected more than 80 subatomic particles from
the breakup of atomic nuclei. All these particles may also be
regarded as bundles of energy are inter-convertible according to
Albert Einsteir’s equation: E=mc2, where E represents energy, m
the mass of the matter and c the velocity of light.
Thus from the point of scientific view, man, dog, table, house,
all living and non-living things are not ultimate realities since
they are composed of electrons, protons, neutrons and energy.
Furthermore, since all the sub-atomic particles may be regarded
as bundles of energy, only may be taken as the ultimate reality in
science.
In Abhidhamma there are four paramatthas or ultimate realities.
They are råpa, citta, cetasika and Nibbàna. In the analysis of råpa,
it is found to comprise the principles of matter and energy.
Citta is consciousness, and cetasikas are mental factors or
mental concomitants. As citta and cetasikas can pick up the senses
and are aware of the senses, they are collectively known as nàma
(mind).
A person is made up of råpa, citta and cetasikas, or in other
words just råpa and nàma (matter and mind). These are the
ultimate realities whereas the person is just an apparent reality.
Nibbàna—the principle of cessation of suffering and of lasting
peace—always exists in nature. The only drawback is that we do
not realize it. It can be realized only by magga-¤àõa and phala-
¤àõa, i.e., the wisdom eye accompanied by the Path and its
Fruition.