Concepts I - Six kinds of concepts


The Abhidhammattha Vibhaviní (Book 8) distinguishes between six kinds of concepts that are names, nama-pannatti (see Visuddhimagga VIII, note 11).
1. Vijjamana pannattis, concepts which make known what is real, for example, the words rupa, nama, vedana (feeling), or sanna (perception)
2. Avijjamanena pannattis, concepts that make known what is not real, such as the words Thai or foreigner. These concepts do not represent absolute realities, citta and cetasika that are nama, and rupa. Thai or foreigners are not real in the absolute sense; they are conventional realities (sammutti dhammas). Could akusala citta (unwholesome consciousness) be Thai or foreign? Akusala citta is a paramattha dhamma (a reality); it is a dhamma that has its own characteristics. It is not Thai or foreign.
3. Vijjamanena avijjamana pannattis, concepts of the non-existent based on the existent. There is the expression “the person with the six abhinnas.” The six abhinnas are real, but person is not. Thus, this concept stands for what is real and for what is not real.
4. Avijjamanena vijjamana pannattis, concepts of the existent based on the non- existent. There is the expression “woman’s voice.” The sound is real, but the woman is not real.
5. Vijjamanena vijjamana pannattis, concepts of what is real based on what is real. There is the term cakkhuvinnana (eye-consciousness). Cakkhu (eye) is a reality, namely the cakkhuppasada-rupa (eyesense, a reality sensitive to colour or visible object), and vinnana (consciousness) is also a reality, namely the reality that experiences.
6. Avijjamanena avijjamana pannattis, concepts of what is not real based on what is not real. There is the expression “the king’s son.” Both king and son are not real; they are sammutti dhammas, conventional realities.

Topic 288