What is meant by “Sabbe Dhamma Anatta”

[SarathW]

I have read the follwing statement in another Dhamma discussion. To me it appears incorrect.
What are your thoughts?

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As we know the word dhamma has multiple meanings. Dhamma in
abhidhamma has analytical meaning. But the word sabbe dhamma anatta
is mostly in the sutta context.

Below is an interesting quote(s)

Subbe dhamma anatta

All compounds are devoid of self.

Some translate the phrase sabbe dhamma literally as "all phenomena"
(both compound and non-compound). This is not true. According to Lord
Buddha's Teaching in the Dhammapada Pali text, as interpreted by the
original arahant commentators and by the most recent translators
(Carter and Palihawadana 1987) 2, the words sabbe dhamma , in this
context, refer only to the Five Aggregates . These are sankhara or
compounds. Thus, the reference excludes pure, non-compound aspects of
nature such as nibbana.
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[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Nibbana is an unconditioned dhamma, and is included in “sabbe dhamma anatta”.

When it's intended to be excluded, you will instead see "sabbe sankhara" instead of "sabbe dhamma". Therefore, "all compounds are devoid of self" would be "sabbe sankhara anatta". Therefore, they are different in meaning and intent. Is the person you quoted suggesting they are synonymous?

(...although interestingly it seems that in the different editions of the Pali Dhammapada there are discrepencies about which ones are used when).

Metta,
Retro.

[reflection]

I'd also say it is incorrect. Nibbana is still non-self.

Nibbana is cessation, going out. Quite logically, you can't stop non-self, but you can stop suffering and impermanence. So nibbana is non-self, but it is not suffering or impermanent.

When I see fuzzy stuff like "pure non-compound elements of nibbana", personally, I'm already not very interested anymore in what the author has to say. I mean, what does that even mean?

[tiltbillings]

I do believe that Nanavira argued that dhamma in Dhp 279 does not refer at all to nibbana.

[Dhammanando]

All compounds are devoid of self.

Some translate the phrase sabbe dhamma literally as "all phenomena"
(both compound and non-compound). This is not true. According to Lord
Buddha's Teaching in the Dhammapada Pali text, as interpreted by the
original arahant commentators and by the most recent translators
(Carter and Palihawadana 1987) 2, the words sabbe dhamma , in this
context, refer only to the Five Aggregates . These are sankhara or
compounds. Thus, the reference excludes pure, non-compound aspects of
nature such as nibbana.

The writer you quote seems to be treating the Dhammapada Commentary's interpretation (which he approves of) as if it were the sole and normative definition of dhammā in this context. But in fact it's unique and exceptional. Everywhere else the commentaries support the view that the writer rejects, the usual gloss being:

• 'Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā' ti sabbe tebhūmakasaṅkhārā aniccā.
  'Sabbe dhammā anattā' ti sabbe catubhūmakadhammā anattā.
  
  'All saṅkhāras are impermanent' means that all saṅkhāras belonging to the three planes are impermanent.
  'All dhammas are not self' means that all dhammas belonging to the four planes are not self.
  (SA.ii.318; )

The three planes are those of sense-desires, refined-form and formlessness. The four planes are the same with the addition of the supramundane.

[Modus.Ponens]

Venerable, so acording to commentaries and abidhamma can the uncompound dhammas be self? I know that probably not, but I would like if you could explain in short the position of the abidhamma and commentaries on this. Thank you.

[Piyatissa]

Venerable, so acording to commentaries and abidhamma can the uncompound dhammas be self? I know that probably not, but I would like if you could explain in short the position of the abidhamma and commentaries on this. Thank you.

Dear Dhamma friends,
Lot has been discussed about the word ‘dhamma’. Let me also join to give some more meanings to this word. This word is used in the Tripitaka over and over again. The meaning depends where it has been used. It has no exclusive meaning. Let me give only a few.

The word ‘dhamma’ which is Pali is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘dharma’ Let us examine its etymology (nirukti). In the word dharma the root dhr’ means to ‘hold’, ‘bear’ or ‘maintain’ So it can be even established as ‘law’ Dhamma has multiple meanings such as justice, morality, ethics, religion, religious merits, law, good work, nature etc. Most of these meanings are cognized in the Tripitaka text and should be taken as and where it appears.

Ven. Walpola Rahula wrote:

"There is no term in Buddhist terminology wider than dhamma. It includes not only the conditioned things and states, but also the non-conditioned, the Absolute Nirvana. There is nothing in the universe or outside, good or bad, conditioned or non-conditioned, relative or absolute, which is not included in this term." [What the Buddha Taught (Grove Press, 1974), p. 58]
Let us see some places where the word Dhamma has been used.

a) Dhammapada – Verse 279

“sabbe dhamma anatta iti yada pannaya passati – atha dukkhe nibbindati esa visuddhiya maggo
sabbe: all: Dhamma: states of being (five aggregates); anttati: are without self: iti yada: when this; pannaya passati: is realized with insight: atha: then; dukkhe: from suffering; nibbindati: get detached; esa: this is; visuddhiya: to total freedom of blemishes, (nibbana); maggo: the path.” In simple terms:

“When one perceives with wisdom that all things are without a self,
then one turns away from suffering. This is the path of purification”

Here dhamma does not mean Buddha's teaching, but should be interpreted rather more generally as "thing". In this meaning a "dhamma" is truly everything. It includes conditioned things (sanskara) and unconditioned things (basically only Nirvana and space). Whereas impermanence and unsatisfactoriness are characteristic only of conditioned things, non-self is a characteristic of all things, even unconditioned ones.

Dhammasanganiprakaranaya. This is a book which gives an extensive explanation of conscious related dhammas.

Katame Dhamma kusala – what are the good states of consciousness?
Kamavachara thoughts of the sensuous universe. There are over 100 good thoughts described in the book as Dhamma. Also 37 bodhipakshika Dhamma are included. In this section all kusala chittas are considered as Dhamma.

Katame Dhamma akusala – What are the bad states of consciousness?
The twelve bad thoughts (twelve akusala chitta) are explained here. Here also hundreds of related bad thoughts are given. Here akusala chittas are dhamma


Katame dhamma aviyakruta – What are the indeterminate states of consciousness?
Here neutral feelings (kamavaccara kusala kamma) having no effect or vipaka are considered. There is a long list of aviyakruta dhamma explained in the book which any interested may read.

b) Niyamas

There are five niyamas taught in Buddhism. They are:
1. Utu Niyma: This is the natural law of the non-living matter. This natural law orders the change of seasons and phenomena related to climate and the weather. It explains the nature of heat and fire, soil and gasses, water and wind. Most natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes would be governed by Utu Niyama.
2. Bija Niyama: Thisis the law of living matter, what we would think of as biology. The Pali word bija means "seed," and so Bija Niyama governs the nature of germs and seeds and the attributes of sprouts, leaves, flowers, fruits, and plant life generally.
3. Kamma Niyama: Kamma, or karma in Sanskrit, is the law of moral causation. All of our volitional thoughts, words and deeds create an energy that brings about effects, and that process is called karma
4. Dhamma Niyama: The Pali word dhamma, or dharma in Sanskrit, has several meanings. It often is used to refer to the teachings of the Buddha. But it also is used to mean something like "manifestation of reality" or the nature of existence. One way to think of Dhamma Niyama is as natural spiritual law. The doctrines of anatta (no self) and shunyata (emptiness) and the marks of existence for example, would be part of Dhamma Niyama.
5. Chitta Niyama: Citta or chitta, means "mind," "heart," or "state of consciousness." Citta Niyama is the law of mental activity -- something like psychology. It concerns consciousness, thoughts, and perceptions.

c) Dhamma as refuge in Triple Gem

Triple Gem or Jewel is Buddha, Dhamma and Sanga. Here Dhamma means the teaching or the doctrine of Buddha. Dhamma includes everything good and bad in the universe. Then how can we take refuge?

Bhikkhu Bodhi, an American Theravada monk and scholar, explained that dhamma as refuge refers to two things. At an elementary or mundane level, the dharma refuge is the Buddha's teaching — "the conceptually formulated, verbally expressed set of doctrines taught by or deriving from the historical figure Gotama." This teaching serves as our guide to the deeper level of dharma, which the Bhikkhu described as "a state of wisdom-consciousness that arises when all the requisite conditions for realization are fully matured."

d) Dhammanudhammapatipda

There are four conditions to attain Nibbana.
1. Associate a kalyana mitta or a noble friend
2. Listen to dhamma (teachings of Buddha) discourses
3. Act or maintain ‘yonisomansikaraya’ Wise reflections
4. Follow the ‘Dhammanudhammapatipada’ or the Noble path
Here Dhammanudhammapatipada is also the teaching of Buddha.

e) Susima Sutta - SN Susisma Paribrajaka

In the above sutta the Blessed One says to Susima Paribrajaka that:
“ pubbe ko Susima dhammatithi nanan, pacca nibbane nananti”
“First, Susima there is the knowledge of the regularity (dependant co-arising) of the Dhamma, after which the knowledge of unbinding”
Here Dhamma means paticca samuppada. For further understanding read Dhammatithi Nana of Patisambhidamagga Prakaranaya of KN

f) Atthasalini – Commentary of Patisambhidamagga Prakaranaya

This is what Atthasalini says about Dhamma
“And the word Dhamma (state) is used in the sense of ‘scriptural text’ , ‘root condition’, ‘virtue’, ‘absence of an entity’, ‘living thing’ etc. such passages as, ‘This one studies the Dhamma, Sutta and the Geyya’, dhamma means scriptures. In the passages as, “Knowledge of root-conditions is analysis of dhamma” dhamma means root condition or cause’. In such passages as,

“Dhamma, adhamma bear no equal fruits
One leads to Heaven the other leads to Hell”

Here Dhamma means virtue or good quality. In such passages as, “At the time of consciousness, coming in to existence, there occur Dhammas and again, he abides watchful over certain dhammas” -’ dhamma implies ‘absence of an entity called living soul’

Above are only few examples of what Dhamma is.

With Metta,

Piyatissa

[SarathW]

'Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā'

Does this mean it excludes Rupa, Vedana, Sanna, and Vinnana in five aggregate?

[TRobinson465]

i guess the real question is. what is the difference between sankara and dhamma? what exactly is it that is included in dhamma but not in sankara.

[SarathW]

'Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā'

Does this mean it excludes Rupa, Vedana, Sanna, and Vinnana in five aggregate?

The question I have is whether Rupa, Vedana, Sanna, and Vinnana are Nicca?

[DooDoot]

i guess the real question is. what is the difference between sankara and dhamma?

The real question is does the word 'sankhara' only have one meaning or does it have multiple meanings?

what exactly is it that is included in dhamma but not in sankara.

Nibbana and Niyama (Law).

'Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā'

Does this mean it excludes Rupa, Vedana, Sanna, and Vinnana in five aggregate?

No. Refer to SN 22.90 (for starters); SN 22.21; MN 115 (two elements); and the terms "kaya sankhara' in MN 44 and 'aayu sankhara' in MN 43.

[TRobinson465]

Nibbana and Niyama (Law).

do you have a sutta that explains this? or commentaries as well would be nice. also. may i ask what Niyama is?

[DooDoot]

or commentaries as well would be nice.

Venerable Dhammanando posted an answer above.

. may i ask what Niyama is? do you have a sutta that explains this?

Nikaya is "Law" (AN 3.136 and SN 12.20). The Law of Nature is permanent.

Mendicants, whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this regularity of natural principles, this invariance of natural principles:

“Uppādā vā, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṃ anuppādā vā tathāgatānaṃ, ṭhitāva sā dhātu dhammaṭṭhitatā dhammaniyāmatā.

https://suttacentral.net/an3.136/en/sujato

[TRobinson465]

Venerable Dhammanando posted an answer above.

Yes but i was asking for elaboration, three planes and four planes is sorta vague.

Nikaya is "Law" (AN 3.136 and SN 12.20). The Law of Nature is permanent.

Oh okay, i get it now that you posted an example. thanks.

[DooDoot]

Oh okay, i get it now that you posted an example. thanks.

Niyama, here: Kamma as a law of nature:

Buddhism teaches that all things, both material and immaterial, are entirely subject to the direction of causes and are interdependent. This natural course of things is called in common terms "the law of nature," and in the Pali language niyama, literally meaning "certainty" or "fixed way," referring to the fact that specific determinants inevitably lead to corresponding results.

The laws of nature, although uniformly based on the principle of causal dependence, can nevertheless be sorted into different modes of relationship. The Buddhist commentaries describe five categories of natural law, or niyama. They are:

1. Utuniyama: the natural law pertaining to physical objects and changes in the natural environment, such as the weather; the way flowers bloom in the day and fold up at night; the way soil, water and nutrients help a tree to grow; and the way things disintegrate and decompose. This perspective emphasizes the changes brought about by heat or temperature.

2. Bijaniyama: the natural law pertaining to heredity, which is best described in the adage, "as the seed, so the fruit."

3. Cittaniyama: the natural law pertaining to the workings of the mind, the process of cognition of sense objects and the mental reactions to them.

4. Kammaniyama: the natural law pertaining to human behavior, the process of the generation of action and its results. In essence, this is summarized in the words, "good deeds bring good results, bad deeds bring bad results."

5. Dhammaniyama: the natural law governing the relationship and interdependence of all things: the way all things arise, exist and then cease. All conditions are subject to change, are in a state of affliction and are not self: this is the Norm.

The first four niyama are contained within, or based on, the fifth one, Dhammaniyama, the Law of Dhamma, or the Law of Nature. It may be questioned why Dhammaniyama, being as it were the totality, is also included within the subdivisions. This is because this fourfold categorization does not cover the entire extent of Dhammaniyama.

From: http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/good_evil_beyond.pdf