An Enquıry into Theravada Abhıdhammıc Phılosophy on Paññattı and the Concept of Truth

Abstract

The truth is two devisions in Abhidhamma: such as conventional truth and ultimate truth, based on state of understating. The symbolic word is true due to worldly convention. The ultimate word is true due to the apparentness of Dhamma-s. A truth that cannot be easily grasped by the sense organs is described in paramattha. In practice, psychological designation (paññatti) is used as medium of communication. In this regard, the use of psychological designation to obtain the wisdom of conformity with truth can be recognized in various instances. What is the functional value basis of dividing the truth as conventional and ultimate truths? What support will be given by this for the realization of Nibbāna, is the main research problem here. The research depends mainly on library survey and textual analysis. Abhidhamma texts, its commentaries and sub commentary will be utilized here as primary sources. Furthermore other canonical texts are also utilized as pertinent with the context of discussion to go deep into concepts. Psychological designation, truth, language, concept and other phenomena related with this work are expected to analyze referring to relevant secondary sources on the particular subject. Paññatti is free of time, similar to the Nibbāna. Thus, paññatti is mind originated. What is called the truth, or reality also has a mind based process. This why, even Nibbāna is analyzed as an emptiness. Emptiness or with nothing that can be taken as self, in the Theravada Buddhism. According to this, an accurate understanding of paññatti will result in a proper understanding of what is really existing or non-existing. Similarly, to explain the above mentioned understanding and to describe how to realize the truth also the psychological designations is to be utilized. Thus the person who enlightened that is taught in Buddhism, deals with society, free from clinging, based on paññatti. Language, concepts truth, and reality are controlled by these psychological designations.