I currently read the book "Wisdom develops Samadhi" by Ācariya Mahā Boowa Ñāṇasampanno.
At about the last third of the book I came across the following passage:
Wisdom Develops Samadhi wrote:Nāma dhammas include vedanā, saññā, sankhāra, and viññāna, these
four being the second group of the five khandhas, (...)
He calls the body the "Rūpa Dhamma" and vedanā, saññā, sankhāra, and viññāna the "Nāma dhammā".
As far as I know, the five (upādāna)kkhandhā are these:
I understand why he includes the body to the rūpa-kkhandha and it's okay to call it "Rūpa Dhamma" but it is not only the body which belongs to the rūpa-kkhandha.
And I don't understand why he includes the other four kkhandā into what he calls the "Nāma dhammā"?
In MN9 it says:
MN9 wrote:Vedanā, saññā, cetanā, phasso, manasikāro – idaṃ vuccatāvuso, nāmaṃ.
Feeling, perception, volition, contact and attention - these are called nāma.
It doesn't say "vedanā, saññā, sankhāra, and viññāna - these are called nāma" it says "vedanā, saññā, cetanā, phasso, manasikāro - these are called nāma"
I couldn't find any sutta where the four kkhandhā (vedanā, saññā, sankhāra, viññāna) together are called nāma.
I guess it could have something to do with the confusing translations of "nāma" (e.g "mentality", "spiritual", "mental"), imho "nāma" does just mean "name". I assume the term "Nāma dhammā" meaning those four kkhandhā does only exist within the commentaries, but since I'm not familiar with the commentaries maybe there's somebody who's able to clarify this.
Another thing is that I'm of the opinion that nāma entails viññāna but does not include it. Note Ven. Ñanavira Note's on nāma. So to call those four kkhandā "Nāma Dhammā" is very confusing perhaps even wrong.
What do you think?
best wishes, acinteyyo
p.s. I'm sorry if this topic doesn't really suit the pali-forum, moderators feel free to replace it then.