The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

w 152Furthermore the four elements in one kalŒpa are interdependent oneach other. Both the four elements and the upŒdŒ rèpas in one kalŒpaare not dependent on the four elements in another kalŒpa. Amongstrèpas that arise together in one kalŒpa the upŒdŒ rèpas depend onthe mahŒ bhètas and the mahŒ bhètas depend on each other.In order to see with –Œöa these rèpas at the level of ultimate realityas they truly are and to see that the upŒdŒ rèpas are dependent onbhèta rèpas and bhèta rèpas are dependent on bhèta rèpas it is firstnecessary to be able to see the rèpa kalŒpas. When a meditator isable to see rèpa kalŒpas then he will also be able to see the ultimaterealities present in each and whether there are eight, nine, ten, ormore rèpas in each. Then he must also endeavour to know the naturalcharacteristics and properties of each of these rèpas by separatingeach out with –Œöa. Only then will he be able to know the ultimatereality of rèpa. In these notes this method of seeing rèpa kalŒpasis called Òanalysis of elementsÓ.In the mahŒgopŒlŒka sutta of majjhima nikŒya, mèlapaööŒsa,mahŒyamaka vagga, the Buddha says: Bhikkhus, in this same waya bhikkhu possessed of eleven qualities is incapable of growth, development,or greatness in this Teaching and Discipline.Of these eleven qualities one enumerated by the Buddha is:Here, Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu does not know rèpa.Which is explained further by the Buddha to mean:Bhikkhus, here in this Teaching a bhikkhu does not know asit really is that, ÒWhatever rèpa there is all rèpa is the four greatelements and the rèpa derived from the four great elementsÓ.Bhikkhus, by not knowing thus a bhikkhu does not know rèpa.The commentary to this says:What is Ònot knowing rèpaÓ, of the four great elements hedoes not know them in two ways as to number and as to cause of