Overview
The fourth triad of the Abhidhamma Mātikā categorizes phenomena based on whether they were generated by past clinging/kamma, and whether they can serve as the object of present clinging. This triad distinguishes between the biologically acquired body and external matter.
The List
- Upādiṇṇupādāniyā dhammā - States that are kammically acquired and subject to clinging: Phenomena directly generated by past kamma (like the physical sense organs and resultant consciousnesses) which unenlightened beings cling to as “mine.”
- Anupādiṇṇupādāniyā dhammā - States that are not kammically acquired but are subject to clinging: Phenomena not generated by past kamma (like trees, rocks, active wholesome/unwholesome thoughts) but which beings still cling to with craving and views.
- Anupādiṇṇanupādāniyā dhammā - States that are not kammically acquired and not subject to clinging: The supramundane paths, fruits, and Nibbāna. They are not born of kamma, and because they destroy defilements, they can never be the object of clinging.
Textual References
- Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī (Mātikā 4) – A critical framework for understanding how kamma constructs the physical body versus the external world.