Name- Khin Khin Oo

Subject- Relations in Buddhism

Instructor- Simon Allen
Date- 3. 6. 2020
Patthana or Twenty-four Paccayas (24 conditional relations)
Introduction
The Buddha taught us “Patthana” or “Twenty-four paccayas” to
reach on a route called “right understanding”. Right understanding is
much important for everyone’s life. Everything has cause and effects. To
understand well what is cause and what is effect, we also need to study
the dhammas. The Buddha preached all kinds of relations, existences,
causes and effects in twenty-four ways.
1. Hetu Paccayo (Root conditions)
Firstly, I would like to explain what is Hetu Paccayo (root
conditions) with some examples. The nutritious roots play a vital role to
grow a tree very well. If the root is nutritious, the tree will grow well
with full of green leaves, fruits, and flowers. If the roots are not
nutritious, the tree will die soon. The tree will not be green anymore.
Likewise, the Buddha preached us that if the person cultivates his own
mind with no greed (Alobha), no anger (Adhosa), and no delusions
(Amoha), as the results, he will be happy, peaceful, calm. Therefore, he
will be able to see the right views. His “Kamma” (Karma in Sanskrit)
also will be good. “Kamma” means “what a person has done and getting
back something as the results of what he has done”. Even in a job, if a
person is dutiful, kind-hearted and patient others, people will love that
person. Gradually, his job level can be higher in the future as the results
of his good Kammas (Karma).
Reversely, if the person allows greed, anger and delusions to stay
in his mind, as the consequences, his mind will be not in peace. His
behaviors will not be gentle. He will not care what is right or wrong
anymore. Therefore, the results of what has he done also will not be
good. And his Kamma also will not be good. Therefore, the Buddha
taught us to try to investigate cause and effect. By keeping in mind
“Hetu Paccayo”, We need to notice that Lobha, Dhosa, and Moha are
causes. Alobha, Adhosa, and Amoha are also causes. What kind of
effects will come from those causes? We always need to noticed them
and try to avoid what is happening in our mind? That is called
Hetupaccayo.
2. Arammanapaccayo (Object condition)
Arammanapaccayo is to notice how our mind and body works. We
have six sense bases: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. We see
something that is because of eye. But we mostly do not stop just in
seeing state. For example, when we see the clothes, we examine that is
beautiful or not? That is expensive or not? If we think that is very
beautiful, we love it and even want to buy it. Likewise, when we hear
the kind of music that we like, we love it. We follow the lyrics and feel
with that song. If song is happy song, we feel happy. If the song is sad
song, we feel sad. Based on six sense bases, mental states happen. It is
like disable people need some materials for help to go or to do
somethings. Similarly, mental states are also relying on the six sense
bases: eyes, ear, nose, tongue body and mind. That is called Arammana
paccayo.
3. Adhipatipaccayo (Pridominent condition)
Adhipatipaccayo remind us to a great leader. A great leader can
take to the follower to a higher place. Similarly, “Enthusiasm, Effort,
Resilient and Wise Investigation” are great leaders. Enthusiasm, effort,
resilient and wise investigations support the followers to achieve their
wishes and to reach a successful life. Nevertheless, if a person is not
enthusiastic enough, or does not make an effort enough, or does not
resilient enough, or without wise investigation, he cannot be successful
or accomplish what he does. For example, if a person is not enthusiastic
enough to learn English, how can he be fluent in English? But if a
person is eager to learn English, He made efforts. He never gives up
learning English. He also reflects back what improvements did he got.
What results did he got? Therefore, he eventually will be fluent in
English. Only one thing that a person should care is not to be on the
wrong way by using those efforts. For example, trying to revenge for
killing, destroying etc. the revenge might accomplish but mostly, the
results will not be good. Therefore, here, wise investigation is much
important.
4. Anantarapaccayo
Anantarapaccayo remind us that one’s non-exist supports another
to exists. For the first example, because the king die, his son becomes a
king. Second example is as people die one day, new born people can
alive. Imagine if people never die but only ever born, how the world
would be?
The last example is that a person wants to build a school in his
little field. That field has full of big trees. Nevertheless, he has to cut
down most of the trees to build a school. The trees have to die and give
the place for other’s benefits.
Our mind and mental states are also like that. As our previous
mind and mental states are disappearing, new mind and mental states
can happen.
5. Samanantarapaccayo (Immidiacy condition)
Samanantarapaccayo remind us changing process works so quick
and so well. While we are staring at the river, we notice that the water is
flowing. Nevertheless, we rarely consider that those water in front of us
are not the same water. Indeed, the previous water has already flowed.
Next, when the king abandoned his king’s life and went to the forest to
find the dhamma, his son subsequently becomes a king. King’s dynasty
change and work so well. Similarly, the changing process of the mind
and mental states are also so quick and works so well. We rarely notice
that our thinking, mind and mental states are always changing every
time.

6. Sahajatapaccayo (arising together)

1. As soon as we lit up the candle, the light appears. As soon as we

switch on the light, the light appears. We cannot decide that fire
becomes first or light appear first. Likewise, our feeling,
perception, mind and mental also happen together meantime.

7. Annamannapaccayo (Mutuality condition)

Annamannapaccayo remind us ecosystem or interrelations. The
nature, people, animals and environment are relying on each other. For
example, people and trees rely on each other. People get oxygen from
the trees. Trees get carbon dioxide from people.
A stool is the second example. We see three legs in a stool. If one
leg has broken, we cannot sit on that anymore. Therefore, three legs
have to rely on each leg.
Likewise, our physicals and mental, mind and body are also
relying on each other. That is called Annamannapaccayo.
8. Nissayapaccayo (Dependence condition)
Nissayapaccayo remind us relying on something, another thing can
happen. For example, we need ground to grow a tree. Indeed, tree have
to rely on many things to grow very well. For example, water, sunlight,
wind etc.
Second example is that because of schools and teachers, students
can study. Third obvious example is because of money, we can buy
things.
 Likewise, because of the six sense bases, mental states happen.
That is called Nissayapaccayo.

9. Uppanissayapaccayo (powerful dependence condition)

Uppanissayapaccayo is like an extra support. For example, because
of the ground, a tree can grow. Nevertheless, the ground only is not
enough to grow a tree very well. If that tree does not get any water,
sunlight, good soil or any rain anymore, that tree cannot live long.
Therefore, even a tree needs extra supports (water, sunlight, good soil).
Next obvious example is that a student study in the class with a
teacher. But if he or she does a self-study, he will know more. Therefore,
self-study is like an Uppanissayapaccayo.
Finally, based on your faith, if you do good things, if you keep
precepts, if you meditate, if you practice the noble eightfold path, you
can reach to the Nibbhana.
10. Purejatapaccayo (Pre-exists condition)
Purejatapaccayo is like previous things support the new coming things.
For example, Sun and moon have already existed before the people.
When people derived, they support the people with light and heat.
The second example is that parents are needed to have a baby. Without
parents, a child cannot be born.
Likewise, we need to have the six sense bases (eyes, ear, nose, tongue,
body, and mind) first, after that the mental states happen.
11. Pacchajatapaccayo (Post-occurance condition)
Pacchajatapaccayo is like a hope. A hope can make someone to be
strong or alive. For example, because of a tsunami, a girl arrived to an
island. There is no food, no drinkable water. Moreover, there is no one
to help her. Nevertheless, she lives with a hope that one day some ships
will come. She tries her best to be alive with many ways with the hope
to go back home. Finally, a ship came and saved her. Therefore, a future
hope also supports people to live longer.
Likewise, vulture couple go and find the food. Vulture children are
hoping that their parents will bring food to them. Nevertheless, the
vulture’s culture is that they just have the food themselves. Never bring
for the children or others. Therefore, the children could not eat anything
until they can fly themselves. But they are alive without food because
they alive with their hopes.
In brief, it is obvious that mental states can affect the body. For
example, if our mental states are active, our physicals are also active. If
our mental states are not active, our physicals are also not active.
12. Asevanapaccayo (Repetition condition)
Asevanapaccayo is like doing something repeatedly and that
supports to a proficiency. For example, a guitar player plays a guitar
every day. So he become an expert in playing guitar.
Secondly, if we paint the wall, we paint repeatedly to be brighter.
That is called Asevanapaccayo.
13. Kammapaccayo (kamma condition or volitions)
The water, ground, wind and the sun light support the tree to grow
very well.
Likewise, our volitional deeds (moral and unmoral thoughts, words
and actions) effect to our lives. They can also make us to be around and
around in the circle of the rebirth (born, old age, sickness and pains, and
die). Until we cannot kill our attachments, volitions, greed, anger, and
delusions, our Kammas (Karmas) will continue.
14. Vipakapaccayo (effects or kamma-result condition)
 Vipakapaccayo remind us that “if you do good, you feel good. If
you do bad you feel bad.”
For example, while you are not in greed, anger and delusion, your
heart is peaceful and happy. Reversely, while you are in greed, anger
and delusion, your heart is very hot. You will not be happy anymore.
Your heart is full of worries and sorrows.
The last clear example is that while you are keeping five precepts,
you do not have any worry as the result of not doing any blamable
things. Nevertheless, if you brake the five precepts, for example, before
you steal, while you are stealing, after stealing, all the time, you will ben
in worries. Your heart is not peaceful anymore as the result of taking of
others’ properties even little thing. That is Vipakapaccayo.
15. Aharapaccayo (Nrtriment condition)
Aharapaccayo Ahara means food. And paccaya means supports. We
need food for body and food for thoughts. without them we cannot live
longer. Our body depend on the mind, weather, food and one thing that I
do not remember now.
For example, if our mind is deep in depression or sad, some people
who are not resilient, even suicide. Therefore, our mind is also need to
be care and control.
Next, if the weather is always too hot or too cold, we cannot stand
anymore and we cannot live longer. Next, if we do not have any food or
drink for one month, or two months, we cannot live anymore.
16. Indriyapaccayo (Faculty condition)
Indriyapaccayo remind us that every part have someone, or something
who are controlling. For example, each village has someone who control
the village. Each town has someone who control the town. Each country
has someone who control the country.
Likewise, let’s think about our body. We have six sense bases (eyes,
ears, nose, tongue, body and mind). Because of eyes cognitions does its
duty, we can see. We can hear because ears work it’s duty. The rests
sense bases are also the same.
17. Jhanapaccayo (concentrated condition)
Jhanapaccayo is like a one pointiness concentration. If someone
concentrates on something, he learns better and he works better. For
example, if a person is concentrating only on writing, that is also
Jhanapaccayo. If a person is concentrating on meditation breath in and
breath out, that is also called Jhanapaccayo. If a person is trying to
notice his mind and mental states, and then he tries to control his
thinkings. That is also called Jhanapaccayo.

18. Maggapaccayo (Path condition)

In our lives, there are the situations encourage us to reach the good
lifecycle or to reach the bad lifecycle. They are like the paths. If we walk
along the path that leads to attachment, greed, anger and delusion, then
they will just lead us to dukkhas (suffering).
The noble eightfold-path (right understanding, right thoughts, right
speech, right action, right livelihood, right efforts, right mindfulness, and
right concentration) is the path that support us to be in a good lifecycle.
If a person would try to apply the noble eightfold-path deeply, he can
even reach to the nibbhana (no attachment, no greed, no anger, no
delusions, and escape from the lifecycle).
19. Sampayuttapaccayo (Association condition)
If two people are very friendly and associate each other, that is
called Sampayuttapaccayo. If two people do not know each other, that is
called Vipayuttapaccayo.
 When we combine sesames oil, groundnut oil, honey and butter,
we cannot make a decide what taste it is.
Similarly, the mind, metals, feelings, attentions and consciousness
are associated. They work together, arise together and parish together.
20. Vipayuttapaccayo (dissociation condition)
When we make a tealeaf salad, we put oil, salt, spicy, onion and garlic.
Even though we mix them, their tastes are different. They are not
associated.
Likewise, our mind and mental are not the same. They do not associate.
It is more obvious when we take meditate. Physical is physical. Mind
and mental are mind and mental.
21. Atthipaccayo (Presence condition)
Present existence supports each other. For example, as there are high
mountains, they support and protect to the small plants and trees. They
support people with the shadows.
As there are still dhammas and monks, we can still hear the Buddha’s
Dhammas.
As we are still alive, we have a chance to try to follow the dhammas.
22. Natthipaccayo (absence condition)
When we blow out the candle, there is no light anymore.
If we are not alive anymore, we do not exist anymore. (however, our
kammas or karmas and rebirths, will continue until we get nibbana)
In brief, when someone is die, that is called Natthipaccayo. When
something is does not exist anymore, that is called Nattipaccayo.
23. Vigatapaccayo (disappearance condition)
When only sun set to the west, the moon can be lighten.
In the room, there is only one chair. If someone is sitting there, you
cannot sit on there. When only he go somewhere else, the chair will be
free and you can sit there.
Likewise, if while you are in anger, the happiness cannot come. Only if
you allow your anger let go, the happiness will come.
24. Avigatapaccayo (non-disappearance condition)
Avigatapaccayo remind us like an ocean and the fish. Fish are happy in
the ocean. Nevertheless, if people caught them, they cannot live there
anymore. Even the ocean want to support the fish.
Next, the schools and teacher are always right there. Nevertheless,
if students gave up their education or they are not interested in studying,
teachers cannot support them.
In conclusion, understanding the Twenty-four paccayas can
support people to see the things as they are. It can also support people to
see the right views.
References: https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/patthana-dhamma/d/doc1830.html
http://patthana.blogspot.com/2008/03/patthana-pali-chanting-01-patthana.html

http://realtruthlife.blogspot.com/2011/05/abhidhammattha-sangaha-law-of-causal.html#.Xt8rKEUzbIV

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