Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c7.s3.t4.4

c7.s3.t4.4

The *Paṭisambhidāmagga*, *Vibhaṅga* and other works speak of four dhātus, viz., Kāma, Rūpa, Arūpa and Apariyāpanna or Lokuttara.¹ *Kāmadhātu* is the world of beings having vatthukāma (desire for existence in any of the three worlds) and kilesakāma (proneness to passion). It comprises the eleven spheres of existence from the Avici hell to the Paranimmita heaven.² In *Kāmadhātu*, the beings possess 5 khandhas, 12 āyatanas, 18 dhātus, 32 indriyas, 9 hetus, 7 kinds of phassa, vedanā, saññā, cetanā and citta, are conversant with the 3 truths and dependent on 4 āhāras.³ *Rūpadhātu* is the world of beings without kāma (passion), their actions being subtle (sukhuma)⁴ in contrast to those of kāmadhātu whose actions are oḷārika (gross). It comprises sixteen planes of existence from Brahmaloka to Akanittha heaven.⁵ In this dhātu, the beings possess 5 khandhas, 6 āyatanas, 9 dhātus, 14 indriyas, 8 hetus, and 4 kinds of phassa, vedanā, saññā, cetanā and citta, are conversant with 3 truths and dependent on 3 āhāras. *Arūpa*- dhātu is the world of beings without kāma (passion) and rūpa (material constituents of a body). It contains the gods residing in the four spheres from the ākāsānañcāyatana to nevasaññā-nāsaññāyatana.¹ In this dhātu the beings possess 4 khandhas, 2 āyatanas, 2 dhātus, 11 indriyas, 8 hetus, one kind of phassa, vedanā, saññā, cetanā and citta, are conversant with 3 truths and dependent on 3 āhāras.