Summary: The Tikapaṭṭhāna is the first major division of the Paṭṭhāna. It applies the twenty-four conditional relations to the twenty-two triads (tika) of the Abhidhamma matrix. It explores how dhammas within these triadic categories (like wholesome, unwholesome, and indeterminate) condition one another. (Patth 1)
Canonical locus
The Paṭṭhāna begins its detailed combinatorial analysis with the first triad (the kusalatika).
Patth 1.1 (patthana1.1:60.1)
Kusalaṁ dhammaṁ paṭicca kusalo dhammo uppajjati hetupaccayā.
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"Dependent on a wholesome dhamma, a wholesome dhamma arises by way of cause-condition."
Analysis
The Tikapaṭṭhāna methodically works through each of the twenty-two triads. For each triad, it tests the interaction of its three members through various analytical vāras (sections): (Patth 1)
- Anuloma (Affirmative): Testing how wholesome relates to wholesome, etc.
- Paccanīya (Negative): Testing how non-wholesome relates to non-wholesome.
- Mixed methods: Testing the crossover between affirmative and negative.
The result is a vast mapping of the internal causal structure of the Abhidhamma's primary categories. (Patth 1)
Textual notes
- This division occupies the largest portion of the Paṭṭhāna manuscripts.
- It establishes the combinatorial "exhaustive" style that characterizes the book.
Related concepts
Related pages
- patthana (text)
- dhammasangani (source of the triads)