Paramattha, Par膩ma峁弓ha, Parama-attha: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Paramattha means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
: Dhamma Dana: Pali English GlossaryM (Absolute reality). The universe is constituted with four paramatthas.
: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana DhamaParamattha is a Pali word. It is made up of parama and attha. Attha means meaning essence intrinsic existence. Parama means farthest superior highest most excellent est. So paramattha dhamma means most excellent intrinsic essence or ultimate realities.
: Buddhist Information: A Survey of Paramattha DhammasThe Pali term paramattha is derived from parama, superior, highest, and attha, which is meaning. Paramattha Dhammas are realities in the highest or ultimate sense.
: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines(-sacca, -vacana, -desan膩): 'truth (or term, exposition) that is true in the highest (or ultimate) sense', as contrasted with the 'conventional truth' (voh膩ra-sacca), which is also called 'commonly accepted truth' (sammuti-sacca; in Skr: samvrti-satya).
The Buddha, in explaining his doctrine, sometimes used conventional language and sometimes the philosophical mode of expression which is in accordance with undeluded insight into reality. In that ultimate sense, existence is a mere process of physical and mental phenomena within which, or beyond which, no real ego-entity nor any abiding substance can ever be found. Thus, whenever the suttas speak of man, woman or person, or of the rebirth of a being, this must not be taken as being valid in the ultimate sense, but as a mere conventional mode of speech (voh膩ra-vacana).
It is one of the main characteristics of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, in distinction from most of the Sutta Pitaka, that it does not employ conventional language, but deals only with ultimates, or realities in the highest sense (paramattha-dhamm膩). But also in the Sutta Pitaka there are many expositions in terms of ultimate language (paramattha-desan膩), namely, wherever these texts deal with the groups (khandha), elements (dh膩tu) or sense-bases (膩yatana), and their components; and wherever the 3 characteristics (ti-lakkhana) are applied. The majority of Sutta texts, however, use the conventional language, as appropriate in a practical or ethical context, because it "would not be right to say that 'the groups' (khandha) feel shame, etc."
It should be noted, however, that also statements of the Buddha couched in conventional language, are called 'truth' (voh膩ra-sacca), being correct on their own level, which does not contradict the fact that such statements ultimately refer to impermanent and impersonal processes.
The two truths - ultimate and conventional - appear in that form only in the commentaries, but are implied in a sutta-distinction of 'explicit (or direct) meaning' (n墨tattha, q.v.) and 'implicit meaning (to be inferred)' (neyyattha). Further, the Buddha repeatedly mentioned his reservations when using conventional speech, e.g. in D. 9: "These are merely names, expressions, turns of speech, designations in common use in the world, which the Perfect One (Tath膩gata) uses without misapprehending them." See also S. I. 25.
The term paramattha, in the sense here used, occurs in the first para. of the Kath膩vatthu, a work of the Abhidhamma Pitaka (s. Guide, p. 62). (App: voh膩ra).
The commentarial discussions on these truths (Com. to D. 9 and M. 5) have not yet been translated in full. On these see K N. Jayatilleke, Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge (London, 1963), pp. 361ff.
In Mah膩yana, the M膩dhyamika school has given a prominent place to the teaching of the two truths.
: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctriness. Paramattha (鈥渞eality鈥�). - Vision and knowledge according to r.- s. vipassan膩 15.
Therav膩da is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: BuddhismThere are 4 Paramattha / Ultimate Realities:
- Rupa
- Citta
- Cetasika
- Nibbana
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryparamattha : (m.) the highest ideal; truth in the ultimate sense. || par膩ma峁弓ha (pp. of par膩masati) touched; held on to; was attached; caressed.
: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryPar膩ma峁弓ha, (pp. of par膩masati) touched, grasped, usually in bad sense: succumbing to, defiled, corrupted D. I, 17; for a different, commentarial interpretation see Par膩m膩sa (eva峁兟� so acquired or taken up; cp. DA. I, 107: nir膩sa峁卥a-cittat膩ya punappuna 膩ma峁弓ha); S. II, 94; Nd2 152 (gahita p. abhinivi峁弓ha; cp. gahessasi No. 227); Dhs. 584, 1177, 1500; Sdhp. 332.鈥攄up掳 wrongly grasped, misused S. I, 49.鈥�补辫辫补谤腻尘补峁弓丑补 (cp. BSk. apar膩m峁涐梗ta not affected Mvyutp. p. 84) untarnished, incorrupt D. II, 80 (cp. Dial II. 85); III, 245; S. II, 70; A. III, 36. (Page 421)
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Paramattha refers to: (cp. class. Sk. param膩rtha) the highest good, ideal; truth in the ultimate sense, philosophical truth (cp. Kvu trsl. 180; J. P. T. S. 1914, 129 sq.; Cpd. 6, 81); Arahantship Sn. 68 (=vuccati Amata峁� Nibb膩na峁� etc. Nd2 409), 219 (掳dassin); Nd2 26; Miln. 19, 31; 掳诲墨辫补苍墨 Exposition of the Highest Truth, N. of the Commentary on Th, Vv and Pv; mentioned e.g. at PvA. 71; 掳箩辞迟颈办腻 id. , N. of the C. on Kh and Sn, mentioned e.g. at KhA 11.鈥擜s 掳-, in Instr. and Abl. used adverbially in meaning of 鈥渋n the highest sense, absolutely, kat) e)cox萎n, primarily, ideally, in an absolute sense, 鈥� like 掳p膩ram墨 Bu I. 77 掳visuddhi A. V, 64; 掳sa帽帽ita Th. 2, 210; 掳su帽帽a Ps. II, 184; 掳suddhi SnA 528; Abl. paramatthato Miln. 28; VvA. 24 (manusso), 30 (bhikkhu), 72 (j墨vitindriya峁�); PvA. 146 (pabbajito, corresponding to anavasesato), 253 (na koci ki帽ci hanati=not at all); Instr. paramatthena Miln. 71 (vedag奴), 268 (satt没paladdhi).
Note: paramattha is a Pali compound consisting of the words parama and attha.
Pali is the language of the Tipi峁璦ka, which is the sacred canon of Therav膩da Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha鈥檚 speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Parama, Asita.
Starts with: Paramattha Dhamma, Paramattha Sacca, Paramatthabindu, Paramatthadipa, Paramatthadipani, Paramatthajotika, Paramatthaka Sutta, Paramatthamanjusa, Paramatthapakasini, Paramattharupa, Paramatthavinicchaya.
Full-text (+21): Paramattha Dhamma, Kilesakalusiyaparamattha, Tajjaparamatthanamalabha, Sammuti Sacca, Ditthadhammikasamparayikaparamattha, Aparamattha, Paramattha Sacca, Lahupavuranasikkhapada, Relative Truth, Dhammamattadipana, Ultimate Realities, Paramattharupa, Amattha, Vibhavaniya, Desana, Abhinivittha, Nitattha Dhamma, Upaparami, Vohara Desana, Uggahita.
Relevant text
Search found 40 books and stories containing Paramattha, Par膩ma峁弓ha, Parama-attha; (plurals include: Paramatthas, Par膩ma峁弓has, atthas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa) (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)
Chapter 1 - On paramattha, the ultimates (and the mind)
Part 6 - What Is Nibb谩na? < [Chapter 11 - Planes Of Existence]
A Manual of Abhidhamma (by N膩rada Thera)
Subject - Matter < [Chapter I - Different Types of Consciousness]
Introduction < [Chapter VI - Analysis of Matter]
Letters about Vipassana (by Nina van Gorkom)
Introducing Buddhist Abhidhamma (by Kyaw Min, U)
Chapter 1 - Preliminaries < [Part 1 - Abhidhamma]
Chapter 6 - Right Understanding < [Part 2 - Meditation]
Chapter 4 - Mind And Matter < [Part 1 - Abhidhamma]
A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas (by Sujin Boriharnwanaket)
Chapter 3 - Exposition Of Paramattha Dhammas I < [Part 1 - General Introduction]
Chapter 6 - Different Aspects of the Four Paramattha Dhammas < [Part 1 - General Introduction]
Chapter 5 - Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas III < [Part 1 - General Introduction]
Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 11 - Classification of the P膩ram墨s < [Chapter 7 - On Miscellany]
Part 1 - Definition of P膩ram墨 < [Chapter 1-3 - Anud墨pan墨 on words and phrases]
Supplement (c): Fulfilment of the Ten Perfections < [Chapter 9 - The chronicle of twenty-four Buddhas]