Viyahapannatti 25.2.866

25.2.866

“Venerable Sir, how many kinds of substances are proclaimed?”
“Gautama, two kinds of substances are proclaimed, namely: living substances (jīva-substances) and non-living substances (ajīva-substances).”
“Venerable Sir, how many kinds of non-living substances are proclaimed?”
“Gautama, two kinds are proclaimed, namely: material non-living substances and immaterial non-living substances.”
“Venerable Sir, how many kinds of immaterial non-living substances are proclaimed?”
“Gautama, ten kinds are proclaimed, namely: the medium of motion (dharmāstikāya), a portion of the medium of motion, points of space of the medium of motion; the medium of rest (adharmāstikāya), a portion of the medium of rest, points of space of the medium of rest; space (ākāśāstikāya), a portion of space, points of space of space; and time (addhāsamaya).”
“Venerable Sir, how many kinds of material non-living substances are proclaimed?”
“Gautama, four kinds are proclaimed, namely: aggregates (skandhas), portions of aggregates, points of space of aggregates, and ultimate atoms of matter (paramāṇu-pudgalas).”
“Venerable Sir, are they numerable, innumerable, or infinite?”
“Gautama, they are not numerable, not innumerable; they are infinite.”
“Why is it said, Venerable Sir, that they are not numerable, not innumerable, but infinite?”
“Gautama, there are infinite ultimate atoms of matter, infinite two-point aggregates, up to infinite ten-point aggregates, infinite numerable-point aggregates, infinite innumerable-point aggregates, and infinite infinite-point aggregates. For that reason, Gautama, it is said: they are not numerable, not innumerable, but infinite.”