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Grammatical Analysis
Yamaka: [nt.] The Book of Pairs. Derived from yama (twin, pair, double).
Orthodox Definition
The Yamaka is the sixth book of the Abhidhamma Piṭaka. Widely considered one of the most difficult and linguistically exhausting texts in human history, its primary purpose is to completely eradicate ambiguity and sloppy thinking regarding Abhidhamma terminology.
It accomplishes this by using “pairs” of questions involving complex permutations of logic (specifically the conversion of propositions). For example: “Is all form the aggregate of form? And conversely, is all the aggregate of form, form?” Or: “Does whoever understand the truth of suffering also abandon the truth of origin? And does whoever abandon the truth of origin also understand the truth of suffering?”
By forcing the student to map the exact, overlapping boundaries of every doctrinal term across past, present, and future timeframes, the Yamaka ensures that a scholar’s understanding of ultimate realities is mathematically flawless.
Quote
Mūlayamakaṃ, khandhayamakaṃ, āyatanayamakaṃ, dhātuyamakaṃ, saccayamakaṃ, saṅkhārayamakaṃ, anusayayamakaṃ, cittayamakaṃ, dhammayamakaṃ, indriyayamakanti imesaṃ dasannaṃ yamakānaṃ vasena idaṃ pakaraṇaṃ dasavidhena vibhattanti hi vuttaṃ.
It is said that this treatise is divided into ten types, corresponding to these ten Yamakas: Mūlayamaka, Khandhayamaka, Āyatanayamaka, Dhātuyamaka, Saccayamaka, Saṅkhārayamaka, Anusayayamaka, Cittayamaka, Dhammayamaka, and Indriyayamaka.Tattha yesaṃ dasannaṃ yamakānaṃ vasena idaṃ pakaraṇaṃ dasavidhena vibhattaṃ, tesañceva imassa ca pakaraṇassa nāmattho tāva evaṃ veditabbo – kenaṭṭhena yamakanti?
In this regard, the meaning of the name of this treatise and of these ten Yamakas, by virtue of which this treatise is divided into ten types, should be understood as follows: “By what meaning is it called Yamaka?”Yugaḷaṭṭhena.
By the meaning of a pair (yugaḷa).Yugaḷañhi yamakanti vuccati – ‘yamakapāṭihāriyaṃ, yamakasālā’tiādīsu viya.
Indeed, a pair is called a Yamaka, as in “Yamaka-pāṭihāriya” (twin miracle), “Yamaka-sālā” (twin-sāla trees), and so on.Iti yugaḷasaṅkhātānaṃ yamakānaṃ vasena desitattā imesu dasasu ekekaṃ yamakaṃ nāma.
Thus, each of these ten is called a Yamaka because it was taught in terms of pairs (yugaḷa-saṅkhāta).Imesaṃ pana yamakānaṃ samūhabhāvato sabbampetaṃ pakaraṇaṃ yamakanti veditabbaṃ.
However, the entire treatise should be understood as Yamaka due to being a collection of these Yamakas.— Yamaka-aṭṭhakathā (Pañcapakaraṇa-aṭṭhakathā, Mūlayamaka)
Textual References
- Canonical: Yamaka – Consists of ten chapters covering roots, aggregates, bases, elements, truths, etc., all subjected to relentless twin-question logic.
- Commentary: Yamaka-aṭṭhakathā – Buddhaghosa’s guide to untangling the logical knots.