15.2 Of Reciprocal Correlation (KV15.2)

Controverted Point: That whereas actions are conditioned by ignorance, we may not say that ignorance is conditioned by actions.

Theravādin: But is not ignorance coexistent with action? If so, here is a reciprocal correlation namely, of coexistence.

Again, “grasping is conditioned by craving”. Now, is it wrong to say that craving is conditioned by grasping? Yes, you say. But the argument above is valid here also.

Mahāsaṅghika: “Birth, bhikkhus, is conditioned by decay and death, the tendency to become is conditioned by birth”—is the Suttanta thus?

Theravādin: No.

Mahāsaṅghika: Neither is the reciprocal conditioning correlation between ignorance and activities reciprocal, nor that between craving and grasping.

Theravādin: “Mind and body, bhikkhus, are conditioned by rebirth-consciousness, and this by mind and body”—is the Suttanta thus?

Mahāsaṅghika: Yes.

Theravādin: Then the conditioning relation may be reciprocal.

The Points of Controversy, an English translation of the Pali Abhidhamma Kathāvatthu. Translated by Shwe Zan Aung and C.A.F. Rhys Davids. First published by Pali Text Society, 1915.

This SuttaCentral edition was prepared by Manfred Wierich and Ven. Vimala and proofread by Josephine Tobin. Some changes were introduced:

Abbreviations, i.e., those of cited works and the participants in the controversies, were expanded.

Cross-references were linked.

Some typographic changes were introduced, among others, i.e.: the phonetic symbol “ŋ” was changed to the Pāli diacritical letter “ṃ”, “ô” to “o”, single quotes to double quotes, and “:—” to “:”.

Letter-spacing with fixed spaces was replaced with bold font.

The corrigenda were merged into the text. Some could not be resolved, though.

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