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how many divisions did the Blessed One teach in the Vibhanga treatise? Answer – Venerable sir, in the Abhidhamma Piṭaka, among the seven treatises, in the second, the Vibhanga treatise, the analysis of aggregates, the analysis of sense-bases, the analysis of elements, the analysis of truths, the analysis of faculties, the analysis of dependent origination, the analysis of foundations of mindfulness, the analysis of right exertions, the analysis of bases of psychic power, the analysis of factors of awakening, the analysis of path factors, the analysis of jhānas, the analysis of immeasurables, the analysis of training rules, the analysis of analytical knowledges, the analysis of knowledges, the analysis of minor topics, the analysis of the heart of phenomena – eighteen divisions were taught by the Blessed One. Analysis of Aggregates Question – Friend, among those eighteen divisions, how did the Blessed One teach the aggregates, extensively divided, in the first, the Analysis of Aggregates? Answer – Venerable sir, among those eighteen divisions, in the first, the Analysis of Aggregates: "The five aggregates are: the aggregate of form, the aggregate of feeling, the aggregate of perception, the aggregate of mental formations, the aggregate of consciousness. Among these, what is the aggregate of form? Whatever form, past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near, having gathered it all together, having collected it all together, this is called the aggregate of form." and so on, by these three great methods, namely, the Suttanta-division, the Abhidhamma-division, and the method of questions and answers, the aggregates were divided and taught in detail by the Blessed One. The Division of Sense Bases Question: But in the second, friend, in the Division of Sense Bases, how were the sense bases divided and taught in detail by the Blessed One? Answer: In the second, venerable sir, in the Division of Sense Bases, the Blessed One taught the sense bases divided in detail by these three methods, namely, the Suttanta-division, the Abhidhamma-division, and the method of questions and answers, starting with: "The twelve sense bases: the eye-base, the form-base, the ear-base, the sound-base, the nose-base, the smell-base, the tongue-base, the taste-base, the body-base, the touch-base, the mind-base, the phenomena-base. The eye is impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Forms are impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change," and so on. The Division of Elements Question: In the Abhidhamma Piṭaka, friend, in the Vibhaṅga treatise, in the third, the Division of Elements, how were the elements divided and taught in detail by the Blessed One? Answer: In the third, venerable sir, in the Division of Elements, the Blessed One taught the elements divided in detail by these three great methods, namely, the Suttanta-division, the Abhidhamma-division, and the method of questions and answers, starting with: "The six elements: the earth element, the water element, the fire element, the wind element, the space element, the consciousness element." The Division of Truths Question: But in the fourth, friend, in the Division of Truths, how were the truths divided and taught in detail by the Blessed One? Answer: In the fourth, venerable sir, in the Division of Truths, the Blessed One taught, starting with: "The four noble truths: the noble truth of suffering, the noble truth of the origin of suffering, the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering. Therein, what is the noble truth of suffering? Birth is suffering, old age is suffering, death is suffering, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are suffering, association with the disliked is suffering, separation from the liked is suffering, not getting what one wants..." too, that too is suffering, in brief, the five aggregates of clinging are suffering. In this way, and so on, by means of the three great methods, namely, the Suttanta-division, the Abhidhamma-division, and the question-and-answer method, the Blessed One taught the Truths, having analyzed them in detail. Analysis of Faculties Question: But in the fifth, friend, the Analysis of Faculties, how did the Blessed One teach the faculties, having analyzed them in detail? Answer: But in the fifth, venerable sir, the Analysis of Faculties, the twenty-two faculties: the eye-faculty, the ear-faculty, the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty, the mind-faculty... ...and so on... the faculty of one who knows what is not yet known. In this way, and so on, by means of the two great methods, namely, the Abhidhamma-division and the question-and-answer method, the Blessed One taught the faculties, having analyzed them in detail. Analysis of Dependent Origination Question: In the Abhidhamma Piṭaka, friend, in the Vibhaṅga treatise, in the sixth, the Analysis of Dependent Origination, how did the Blessed One teach Dependent Origination, having analyzed it in detail? Answer: In the sixth, venerable sir, the Analysis of Dependent Origination, with ignorance as condition, volitional formations... ...and so on... there is origination. In this way, and so on, the Blessed One taught Dependent Origination, by means of the two great methods, namely, the Suttanta-division and the Abhidhamma-division, having analyzed it in detail. Analysis of Foundations of Mindfulness Question: But in the seventh, friend, the Analysis of Foundations of Mindfulness, how did the Blessed One teach the foundations of mindfulness, having analyzed them in detail? Answer: In the seventh, venerable sir, the Analysis of Foundations of Mindfulness, the four foundations of mindfulness: here, a monk dwells contemplating the body in the body internally, he dwells contemplating the body in the body externally, he dwells contemplating the body in the body internally and externally, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in the world. In this way, and so on, by means of the three great methods, namely, the Suttanta-division, the Abhidhamma-division, and the question-and-answer method, the Blessed One taught the foundations of mindfulness, having analyzed them in detail. Analysis of Right Exertions Question: But in the eighth, friend, In the section on Right Exertion, how were the Right Exertions expounded in detail by the Blessed One? Answer – In the eighth section, venerable sir, the section on Right Exertion, the Blessed One expounded the Right Exertions in detail, beginning with: “There are four Right Exertions. Here, a monk generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil, unwholesome states; he strives, he arouses energy, he exerts his mind, he makes an effort. He generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil, unwholesome states; he strives, he arouses energy, he exerts his mind, he makes an effort. He generates desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome states; he strives, he arouses energy, he exerts his mind, he makes an effort. He generates desire for the maintenance, non-confusion, increase, abundance, development, and perfection of arisen wholesome states; he strives, he arouses energy, he exerts his mind, he makes an effort.” Thus, the Blessed One expounded the Right Exertions in detail. Section on Bases of Power Question – And in the ninth section, friend, the section on Bases of Power, how were the Bases of Power expounded in detail by the Blessed One? Answer – In the ninth section, venerable sir, the section on Bases of Power, the Blessed One expounded the Bases of Power in detail, beginning with: “There are four Bases of Power. Here, a monk develops the Base of Power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations of exertion… …he develops the Base of Power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of exertion.” Thus, the Blessed One expounded the Bases of Power in detail by these three great methods. Section on Factors of Awakening Question – Friend, in the Abhidhamma Piṭaka, in the Vibhaṅga treatise, in the tenth section, the section on Factors of Awakening, how were the Factors of Awakening expounded in detail by the Blessed One? Answer – In the tenth section, venerable sir, the section on Factors of Awakening, the Blessed One expounded the Factors of Awakening in detail, beginning with: “There are seven Factors of Awakening: the mindfulness factor of awakening, the investigation-of-states factor of awakening, the energy factor of awakening, the rapture factor of awakening, the tranquility factor of awakening, the concentration factor of awakening, the equanimity factor of awakening. Among these, what is the mindfulness factor of awakening? Here, a monk is mindful, endowed with supreme mindfulness and discernment… one endowed with it what was done long ago, what was said long ago, is remembered, is recollected. This is called the enlightenment factor of mindfulness. In this way, by the Blessed One, by means of the Suttanta-division, the Abhidhamma-division, and the question-and-answer methods, by these three methods, the enlightenment factors were taught, having been expounded in detail. Division of the Path Factors Question: But in the eleventh, friend, the Division of the Path Factors, how by the Blessed One were the path factors taught, having been expounded in detail? Answer: In the eleventh, venerable sir, the Division of the Path Factors, "The Noble Eightfold Path. That is to say: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration." In this way, by the Blessed One, by means of the Suttanta-division, the Abhidhamma-division, and the question-and-answer methods, by these three great methods, the path factors were taught, having been expounded in detail. Division of Jhāna Question: