Overview
The Theragāthā commentary, explaining the phrase “patte kālamhi pacchime” (when the final time has come), says that the Dispensation (sāsana) has five ages (yuga). As one age disappears the next prevails. The commentary uses this to explain what the “final time” is.
The List
- Vimuttiyuga - The age of liberation. It is the first age (Th-a-ii 4496:7-8).
- Samādhiyuga - The age of concentration. It prevails when the age of liberation has disappeared.
- Sīlayuga - The age of virtue. It prevails when the age of concentration has disappeared.
- Sutayuga - The age of learning. It prevails when the age of virtue has disappeared. The commentary adds that one of impure virtue may still hold on to scriptural learning from desire for gain, and that this age ends when learning, down to the mātikā, has wholly disappeared (Th-a-ii 4496:9-10).
- Dānayuga - The age of generosity. After learning has disappeared only the outward monastic form remains, and people gather wealth and give it away; “that, they say, is their final right practice” (Th-a-ii 4496:10).
Quote
Sāsanassa hi pañcayugāni vimuttiyugaṃ, samādhiyugaṃ, sīlayugaṃ, sutayugaṃ, dānayuganti. Tesu paṭhamaṃ vimuttiyugaṃ, tasmiṃ antarahite samādhiyugaṃ vattati, tasmimpi antarahite sīlayugaṃ vattati, tasmimpi antarahite sutayugaṃ vattateva.
Indeed, there are five ages of the Dispensation: the age of liberation, the age of concentration, the age of virtue, the age of learning, and the age of generosity. Among these, the first is the age of liberation. When that disappears, the age of concentration prevails. When that too disappears, the age of virtue prevails. When that too disappears, the age of learning indeed prevails.— Theragāthā Aṭṭhakathā (Th-a-ii 4496, on “patte kālamhi pacchime”) · TPR
Textual References
- Commentary: Theragāthā Aṭṭhakathā (Th-a-ii 4496) – The only passage found that names the five ages (a search of all TPR layers for these names finds this one passage). It is a comment on the verse phrase “patte kālamhi pacchime”.