Nyanatiloka Buddhist Dictionary

Buddha, i.e. the 4 Noble Truths (sacca, q.v.)."The Perfect One, o monks, the Holy One, fully Enlightened One, in the Deer Park at Isipatana near Benares,has set rolling (established) the unsurpassed Wheel (realm) of the Law" (M. 141). Cf. cakka.dhamma-desaná: 'exposition of the Doctrine (law)'; s. desaná.dhamma-dhátu: mind-object-element (s. dhátu).dhammánupassaná: 'contemplation of the mind-objects' is the last of the 4 foundations of mindfulness(satipatthána, q.v.)dhammánusárí: the 'dhamma-devotee', is one of the 7 noble disciples (ariya-puggala, q.v.).dhammánussati: 'recollection of the Law', is one of the 10 recollections (anussati, q.v.).dhamma-patisambhidá: the 'analytical knowledge of the law, is one of the 4 kinds of analytical knowledge(patisambhidá, q.v.).dhamma-tthiti-ñána: 'knowledge of the fixity of law, is a name for that 'insight which is leading up' to theentrance into one of the 4 supermundane paths (vutthána-gáminí-vipassaná, q.v.). In the Susima Sutta (S.XII, 70) this (ascending) insight is called the 'knowledge of the fixity of the law', namely: "At first, Susima,there exists the knowledge of the fixity of the law, and later the knowledge of Nibbána." (See Vis.M. XXI.)dhamma-vicaya-sambojjhanga: 'investigation of the law as factor of enlightenment', is one of the 7 factorsof enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.).dhammáyatana: 'mind-object as base' (áyatana, q.v.).dhana: 'treasures', a term for the following 7 qualities: faith, morality, moral shame, moral dread, learning,liberality and wisdom. Cf. A. VII, 5, 6.See 'Treasures of the Noble', by Soma Thera (BODHI LEAVES B. 27, BPS).dhátu: 'elements', are the ultimate constituents of a whole.(I) The 4 physical elements (dhátu or mahá-bhúta), popularly called earth, water, fire and wind, are to beunderstood as the primary qualities of matter. They are named in Páli: pathaví-dhátu, ápo-dhátu, tejo-dhátu,and váyo-dhátu. In Vis.M. XI, 2 the four elements are defined thus: "Whatever is characterized by hardness(thaddha-lakkkhana) is the earth or solid-element; by cohesion (ábandhana) or fluidity, the water-element;by heating (paripácana), the fire or heat-element; by strengthening or supporting (vitthambhana), the wind ormotion-element. All four are present in every material object, though in varying degrees of strength. If, forinstance, the earth element predominates, the material object is called 'solid', etc. - For the analysis of the 4elements, s. dhátu-vavatthána.(II) The 18 physical and mental elements that constitute the conditions or foundations of the process ofperception, are:1. visual organ (eye) 10. body-impression2. auditory organ (ear) 11. eye-consciousness3. olfactory organ (nose) 12. ear-consciousness4. gustatory organ (tongue) 13. nose-consciousness5. tactile organ (body) 14. tongue-consciousness6. visible object 15. body-consciousness7. sound or audible object16. mind-element(mano-dhátu)