Kalapa (atomism)

Kalapa or rupa-kalapa (from Sanskrit rūpa "form, phenomenon" and kalāpa "bundle") is a term in Theravada Buddhist phenomenology for the smallest units of physical matter, said to be about 1/46,656th the size of a particle of dust from a wheel of chariot.Kornfield, Jack (1977, 1996), Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters, Shambhala p.316

Kalapas are not mentioned in the earliest Buddhists texts, such as the Tripitaka, but only in the Abhidhammattha-sangaha, an Abhidhamma commentary dated to the 11th or 12th century, and as such not part of common Theravada doctrine.[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1245/Abhidhammattha-sangaha Abhidhammattha-sangaha], Britannica Online (1998, 2005).

According to the description found in the Abhidhammattha-sangaha, Kalapas are said to be invisible under normal circumstances but visible as a result of meditative samadhi.Shankman, Richard (2008), The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation, Shambhala, p. 178 Kalapas are composed of eight inseparable elements of material essence in varying amounts which are:Anuruddhàcariya, Bhadanta, trans. By Thera, Nàrada Mahà (1979) A Manual of Abhidhamma: Abhidhammattha Saïgaha of Bhadanta Anuruddhàcariya Buddhist Missionary Society, p.320 Pathavi (earth), Apo (water), Tejo (fire), Vayo (air), Vanna (color), Gandha (smell), Rasa (taste), and Oja (nutrition). The first four elements are called primary qualities, and are predominant in kalapas. The other four are secondary properties that derive from the primaries.[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khin/wheel231.html U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma"] The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka The primary qualities are akin to the system of classical elements in Ancient Greece. Certain kalapas are said to also include additional elements, including sound, sex, body, mind-base and life.[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mendis/wheel322.html Mendis, N.K.G. (2006-2011), The Abhidhamma in Practice The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka]Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.267

In contemporary Buddhist meditation practice, the observation and analysis of kalapas is a type of vipassana practice that aims to allow direct observation of impermanence and non-self.Rasmussen, Tina and Snyder, Stephen (2009) Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration as Presented by Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, Shambhala p.127[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khin/wheel231.html U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma"]

The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka Contemporary adherents of practices related to the observation and analysis of kalapas include U Ba Khin, S.N. Goenka and the Pa Auk Sayadaw.Goenka, S.N. (2000) The Discourse Summaries, Vipassana Research Publications, p. 131Sayadaw, Pa Auk Tawya (2000), Knowing and Seeing, D.W.K. Ng, p.125[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khin/wheel231.html U Ba Khin, Sayagyi Thray Sithu (1995-2011) "The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma"] The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka{{Cite book|title=The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation|last=Shankman|first=Richard|publisher=Shambhala|year=2008|isbn=9780834824010|pages=177}}

Mahasi Sayadaw in the 1980s expressed a belief that kalapas played a role in aging, death and rebirth.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisismyanmar.com/nibbana/mahasip2.htm#20 |title=Sayadaw, Mahasi (March 1982) PATICCASAMUPPADA, Buddhasasana Nuggaha Organization |access-date=2011-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717050856/http://www.thisismyanmar.com/nibbana/mahasip2.htm#20 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |url-status=usurped }}