The Fullness of Consciousness in the Dhammsaṅgaṇī
E. Shulman
Journal of Buddhist Philosophy June 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1353/jbp.2026.a991900 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that dhammas in the Dhammasaṅgaṇī are qualities or processes, not self-defined entities, and that their definitions function as approximations of realities rather than finite descriptions of fixed states, thereby denying reductionist and atomistic interpretations. |
Abstract
Abstract:The Dhammasaṅgaṇī sets the stage for Theravāda Abhidhamma, in a fine-grained analysis of consciousness that zooms in on the most minutely identifiable or conceptualizable moments of mind. Any such consciousness or mental moment is characterized by a list of dhammas, commonly taken as "phenomena" or defined as cetasikas – accompanying mental factors, with a basic number of 56 elements enumerated. Often, these dhammas are understood as fundamental mental atoms. This article develops an interpretation of the text that takes dhammas as qualities or processes rather than as self-defined entities, thereby denying their reductionist and atomistic interpretation. The definitions for these qualities are examined to show that they function as approximations of realities, rather than as finite descriptions of fixed states. With this, the synthetic features of the text are underscored, where dhammas are densely packed movements of mind that combine in an efflorescence of conscious experience, to produce a rich understanding of conscious-life. The phenomenological value of this understanding is then assessed, connecting it to ideas from the Upaniṣads and with this to broader concerns of Indian philosophy.