Nyanatiloka Buddhist Dictionary

endless space (anantákása), i.e. cosmic space.1. Limited space, under the name of ákása-dhátu (space element), belongs to derivedcorporeality (s. khandha, Summary I; Dhs 638) and to a sixfold classification of elements (s.dhátu; M 112, 115, 140). It is also an object of kasina (q.v.) meditation. It is defined as follows:"The space element has the characteristic of delimiting matter. Its function is to indicate theboundaries of matter. It is manifested as the confines of matter; or its manifestation consists inbeing untouched (by the 4 great elements), and in holes and apertures. Its proximate cause is thematter delimited. It is on account of the space element that one can say of material thingsdelimited that 'this is above. below, around that' " (Vis.M. XIV, 63).2. Endless space is called in Atthasálini ajatákása, 'unentangled', i.e. unobstructed or emptyspace. It is the object of the first immaterial absorption (s. jhána), the sphere of boundless space(ákásánañcáyatana). According to Abhidhamma philosophy, endless space has no objectivereality (being purely conceptual), which is indicated by the fact that it is not included in the triadof the wholesome (kusalatika), which comprises the entire reality. Later Buddhist schools haveregarded it as one of several unconditioned or uncreated states (asankhata dharma) - a view thatis rejected in Kath. (s. Guide. p. 70). Theraváda Buddhism recognizes only Nibbána as anunconditioned element (asankhata-dhátu: s. Dhs. 1084).ákása dhátu: 'space element'; see above and dhátu.ákása-kasina 'space-kasina exercise'; s. kasina.ákásánañcáyatana: 'sphere of boundless space', is identical with the 1st absorption in the immaterial sphere;s. jhána (6).ákiñcañña-ceto-vimutti: s. ceto-vimutti.ákiñcaññáyatana: s. jhána (7).akiriya-ditthi: view of the inefficacy of action'; s. ditthi.akuppá-ceto-vimutti: cf. ceto-vimutti.akuppa-dhamma: 'unshakable', is one who has attained full mastery over the absorptions (jhána, q.v.). InPug. 4 it is said:'What person is unshakable? If a person gains the meditative attainments of the fine-material and immaterialsphere (rúpávacara-arúpávacara); and he gains them at his wish, without toil and exertion; and according tohis wish, as regards place, object and duration, enters them or arises from them, then it is impossible that insuch a person the attainments may become shaken through negligence. This person is unshakable."akusala: 'unwholesome', are all those karmic volitions (kamma-cetaná; s. cetaná) and the consciousness andmental concomitants associated therewith, which are accompanied either by greed (lobha) or hate (dosa) ormerely delusion (moha); and all these phenomena are causes of unfavourable karma-results and contain theseeds of unhappy destiny or rebirth. Cf. karma, paticca-samuppáda (1), Tab. II.akusala-sádhárana-cetasika: 'general unwholesome mental factors associated with all unwholesomeactions' (volitions), are four: (1) lack of moral shame (ahirika), (2) lack of moral dread (anottappa), (3)restlessness (uddhacca), (4) delusion (moha). For (1) and (2) s. ahirika-anottappa, for (3) s. nívarana, for (4)múla. (App.).The corresponding term in the field of wholesome consciousness is sobhana- sádhárana-cetasika (s.sobhana).