Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c7.s3.t4.11

c7.s3.t4.11

These three dhātus contain all the beings of the universe from the lowest to the highest plane of existence. The aim of Hīnayāna Buddhism is to reach a plane beyond the three dhātus, called the Apariyāpanna- or Lokuttara-dhātu (the unincluded or transcendental sphere. According to the Paṭisambhidāmagga² it contains those beings who have reached the four maggas and have obtained the four maggaphalas or the Asaṅkhata, i.e., Nibbāna. The Vibhaṅga³ explains that the beings of Apariyāpannadhātu possess khandhas and āyatanas similar to those of Arūpadhātu with the difference that the former are conversant with two truths (nirodha and magga), possess one additional power, viz., anaññātaññassāmitindriya and 6 hetus.⁴ Evidently, the texts have in view those sentient beings of the first three dhātus, who come to possess one of the stages of sanctification including Arhathood. The texts, however, do not explain how a being belonging to the Kāma- or Rūpa-dhātu and possessing one of the stages of sanctification can be without the rūpakkhandha and how one possessed of the Asaṅkhata or Nibbāna can continue to have the khandhas, dhātus, āyatanas, etc.,⁵ which are the attributes of the members of Apariyāpanna- and Arūpadhātu. Thus we find that the Hīnayānists seek release from the three laukikadhātus by attaining the lokuttara- or apariyāpanna-dhātu, which includes the Asaṅkhata- or Nibbāna-dhātu.