Dhammasangani

The Dhammasangani (-saṅgaṇi or -ī) is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism, where it is included in the Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Translations:

• A Buddhist Manual of Psychological Ethics, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, Royal Asiatic Society, 1900; reprinted with corrections, Pali Text Society, Bristol
• Tr U Kyaw Khine, Department for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana, Rangoon, 1996; reprinted by Sri Satguru Pubns, Delhi, 2 volumes

The book begins with a matika (Pali for "matrix"), which is a list of classifications of dhammas, variously translated as ideas, phenomena, states, patterns etc. There are 22 3-fold classifications, followed by 100 2-fold ones according to the abhidhamma method and 42 according to the sutta method. The main body of the book is in four parts, as follows.

The first part deals with states of mind, listing and defining factors present in them.

The second deals with material phenomena, classifying them numerically, by ones, twos etc.

The third part applies the material in the first two to explaining the classifications in the matika.

The fourth does likewise, but in a different and sometimes more detailed way, and omitting the sutta method 2-fold classifications. This fourth part is mostly omitted from the old translation, only a few extracts being included. The new translation is complete.