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Q-08: Venerable Sir, now I have two questions.

A) In MN 140 Dhatu-vibhanga Sutta translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, the Buddha explained about the akasa-dhatu as follows.

"And what is the space property? The space property may be either internal or external. What is the internal space property? Anything internal, belonging to oneself, that's space, spatial, and sustained: the holes of the ears, the nostrils, the mouth, the passage whereby what is eaten, drunk, consumed, and tasted gets swallowed, and where it collects, and whereby it is excreted from below, or anything else internal, within oneself, that's space, spatial, and sustained: This is called the internal space property. Now both the internal space property and the external space property are simply space property. And that should be seen as it actually is present with right discernment: 'This is not mine, this is not me, this is not my self.' When one sees it thus as it actually is present with right discernment, one becomes disenchanted with the space property and makes the space property fade from the mind."

In the above sutta, the internal space property (ajjhattika-akasadhatu) was explained. But I do not know what the Buddha meant by the external space property (bahira-akasadhatu). Could you kindly tell me the examples of what the external space properties are?

B) And in Milinda-panha, Nippapanca-vagga, Akammajadi-panha, I read the English translation by N.K.G. Mendis as follows:

King Milinda said: “Revered Naagasena, things produced by kamma are seen in the world, things produced by cause, things produced by physical change are seen. ‘Tell me what there is in the world that is not born of kamma (akammajo), not born of cause (ahetujo), not born of physical change (anutujo).”

“In the world these two, sire, are born neither of kamma nor of cause, nor of physical change. What two? Space (akasa) and Nibbana.”

I would be grateful to know whether the space (akasa) mentioned in Milinda-panhaa is the same as the external space property (bahira akasadhatu) or the combination of both internal and external space property, as mentioned in MN 140?

Respectfully,

Dr Han Tun

A-08: Dr Han Tun, here are my answers to your questions.

A) Anything in your physical body is your internal property. Anything outside of your physical body is your external property. Any space outside of yourself is your external space element. For example my ear holes, my nose holes etc. are your external space elements. Similarly the hole of my alms bowl, the hole of your pocket and the space between you and me are our external space elements (external space elements of you and me).

B) And a space is just a space wherever it is. All spaces (mentioned in Majjima-nikaya and Pilindapanha) are same.

With Metta,

Ashin Acara

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Dhamma Questions are answered by Bhante U Cittara, resident monk of Mangala Vihara, and his assistant monks. Questions and comments on given answers are welcome. Send your questions and comments to resident_monk@mangalavihara.org.sg.