Eighteen elements
The eighteen elements are a term from Buddhist psychology and describe the conditions for perception and processes of consciousness. The eighteen elements ( dhātu ) are discussed in detail in the book of Dhatukatha of the Abhidhammapitaka and are closely related to the teaching of dependent arising (Paticcasamuppāda), in particular the six realms (Ṣaḍāyatana (Sanskrit) / Saḷāyatana (Pāli)) and the teaching of the five Skandhas . This teaching also includes the Twelve Fundamentals (āyatana), which also deal with the fundamentals of perception (organ - object). The fact that the 3 element groups only become what they are when they are mutually dependent (visual consciousness, visual object and eye depend on each other) refers to their lack of their own being ( anattā ) and thus to the central Buddhist concept of emptiness ( Śūnyatā ).
| organ | object | awareness |
|---|---|---|
| eye
ear nose tongue Body, skin Thinking (mano-dhātu) |
Seen
Heard Smelled Tasted What is felt, touched, felt Thought (dhamma-dhātu)
|
Visual awareness
Auditory awareness Olfactory awareness Taste awareness Awareness of touch Thought Awareness (mano-viññāna-dhātu) |
Web links
- Dhātu Saṃyutta - From the elements from the Samyutta Nikaya
- Bahudhātuka Sutta from the Majjhima Nikaya