6 Yamaka Pāḷi

The Dhammasaṅgaṇī, the Vibhaṅga and the Dhātukathā examine the world of reality, named saṅkhāraloka. Puggalapaññatti and Kathāvatthu deal with beings and individuals which also exist in their own world of apparent reality, know as sattaloka. Where the dhamma of saṅkhāraloka and beings of the sattaloka co-exist is termed okāsaloka. Yamaka sets out to define and analyse the interrelationship of dhammas and puggalas as they exist in these three worlds.

This is accomplished in the form of pairs of questions, which gives it the title of Yamaka. The logical processes of conversion (anuloma) and complete inversion (paṭiloma) are applied to determine the full implications and limitations of a term in its relationship with the others. Any equivocal elements of a term (saṃsaya) are avoided by showing, through such arrangement of questions, how other meanings of the term do not fit in a particular context.

The following pairs of questions may be taken as an
example:

To the question, "May all rūpa be called rūpakkhandha?" the answer is "Rūpa is also used in such expressions as piya rūpa (loveable nature), eva rūpa (of such nature), but there it does not mean rūpakkhandha."

But to the question "May all rūpakkhanda be called rūpa?" the answer is "Yes", because rūpakkhandha is a very wide term and includes such terms as piya rūpa, eva rūpa, etc.