Summary: In the Abhidhamma, indriya refers to the twenty-two "faculties" or controlling powers that exercise a dominant influence over their respective domains. The Vibhaṅga's fifth chapter, the Indriyavibhaṅga, provides a detailed analytical exposition of these twenty-two directive forces, which range from basic sensory organs to advanced spiritual capacities (Vibh 5).
Canonical locus
The Vibhaṅga defines the twenty-two faculties by enumeration and provides an analytical breakdown of their nature and function. (Vibh 5)
Vibh 5 (vb5:1.1–1.2)
Bāvīsatindriyāni—cakkhundriyaṁ, sotindriyaṁ, ghānindriyaṁ, jivhindriyaṁ, kāyindriyaṁ, manindriyaṁ, itthindriyaṁ, purisindriyaṁ, jīvitindriyaṁ, sukhindriyaṁ, dukkhindriyaṁ, somanassindriyaṁ, domanassindriyaṁ, upekkhindriyaṁ, saddhindriyaṁ, vīriyindriyaṁ, satindriyaṁ, samādhindriyaṁ, paññindriyaṁ, anaññātaññassāmītindriyaṁ, aññindriyaṁ, aññātāvindriyaṁ.
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"Twenty-two faculties: eye-faculty, ear-faculty, nose-faculty, tongue-faculty, body-faculty, mind-faculty; femininity-faculty, masculinity-faculty, life-faculty; pleasure-faculty, pain-faculty, joy-faculty, grief-faculty, equanimity-faculty; faith-faculty, energy-faculty, mindfulness-faculty, concentration-faculty, wisdom-faculty; 'I shall know the unknown' faculty, the faculty of final knowledge, the faculty of one who has known."
Analysis
The Abhidhamma concept of indriya highlights the "controlling" nature of certain phenomena. Just as a king rules his domain, each faculty rules its respective area of mental or physical life. (Vibh 5)
Functional groupings
The twenty-two faculties are typically grouped by their function: (Vibh 5)
- Six sensory faculties: Eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind.
- Two life-related faculties: Femininity, masculinity (determining physical sex).
- One vitality faculty: Life (jīvitindriya).
- Five feeling faculties: Pleasure, pain, joy, grief, equanimity.
- Five spiritual faculties: Faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, wisdom.
- Three supramundane faculties: Advanced stages of the spiritual faculties realized on the paths to liberation.
Directive influence
A phenomenon is called an indriya because it performs a "directive" function. For example, the eye-faculty controls the act of seeing; the faith-faculty controls the mind's confidence. This framework allows the Abhidhamma to map not just what components are present (aggregates) or how they arise (bases), but how they exert influence on the overall mental state. (Vibh 5)
Supramundane completion
The final three faculties are unique to the Abhidhamma's spiritual psychology. They represent the transformation of the spiritual faculties as they reach the level of the supramundane paths and fruits, culminating in the "faculty of one who has known" (aññātāvindriya) of the Arahant. (Vibh 5)
Textual notes
- The word indriya is related to the name of the Vedic god Indra, signifying "lordship" or "dominion".
- Like other Vibhaṅga chapters, the faculties are analyzed through the Suttantabhājanīya, Abhidhammabhājanīya, and Pañhapucchaka methods.