Overview
The tenth triad of the Abhidhamma Mātikā classifies phenomena based on their directionality regarding saṃsāra. It asks: is this action building up the cycle of rebirth, is it tearing down the cycle of rebirth, or is it doing neither?
The List
- Ācayagāmino dhammā - States leading to accumulation: All mundane wholesome and unwholesome kamma. Whether one is murdering or giving charity to go to heaven, both actions build up (ācaya) and prolong the cycle of birth and death.
- Apacayagāmino dhammā - States leading to eradication: The four supramundane Paths (Magga). These moments of insight actively dismantle, tear down (apacaya), and destroy the accumulated kamma, leading directly to the exit from saṃsāra.
- Nevācayagāminonapacayagāmino dhammā - States leading to neither accumulation nor eradication: Resultant consciousnesses (which are just passive effects), functional consciousnesses of an Arahat, physical matter, and Nibbāna. They neither build up the round nor tear it down.
Textual References
- Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī (Mātikā 10) – A profound classification proving that even “good” worldly kamma is fundamentally part of the problem of saṃsāra, and only the supramundane path provides the solution.