<p>The meanings of the word 'dhamma' are very broad. The root meaning of the word 'dhamma' is 'that which supports'.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The word dharma has roots in the Sanskrit dhr-, which means to hold or
to support, and is related to Latin firmus (firm, stable). From this,
it takes the meaning of &quot;what is established or firm&quot;, and hence
&quot;law&quot;. It is derived from an older Vedic Sanskrit n-stem dharman-,
with a literal meaning of &quot;bearer, supporter&quot;, in a religious sense
conceived as an aspect of Rta.</p>
<p>In the Rigveda, the word appears as an n-stem, dhárman-, with a range
of meanings encompassing &quot;something established or firm&quot; (in the
literal sense of prods or poles). Figuratively, it means &quot;sustainer&quot;
and &quot;supporter&quot; (of deities). It is semantically similar to the Greek
themis (&quot;fixed decree, statute, law&quot;).</p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma#Etymology" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipeadia</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Therefore, anatta is certainly a 'dhamma'. <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an3.136/en/sujato?lang=en&amp;layout=linebyline&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=sidenotes&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 3.136</a> says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this
regularity of natural principles, this invariance of natural
principles:</p>
<p>Uppādā vā, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ anuppādā vā tathāgatānaṁ ṭhitāva sā
dhātu <strong>dhamma</strong>ṭṭhitatā <strong>dhamma</strong>niyāmatā.</p>
<p>all things are not-self.</p>
<p>Sabbe <strong>dhammā</strong> anattā.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While the word 'dhamma' is used <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an3.136/en/sujato?lang=en&amp;layout=linebyline&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=sidenotes&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 3.136</a> is in relation to 'natural law', it is a 'dhamma' because the wisdom/understanding of anatta as natural law 'supports' liberation from suffering.</p>
<p>Whether the English word 'phenomenon' is relevant here is subject to discussion/debate. Buddhism is not really about English words. Buddhism says anatta is a characteristic (lakkhana) of everything. Whether a 'characteristic' is a 'phenomena' in English I do not know.</p>
<p>In summary, anatta is certainly a dhamma because it supports/upholds liberation.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-13T22:25:19.753Z
2023-11-14T01:16:20.623Z
2023-11-14T01:16:20.623Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>Sabbe Dhamma Anatta. It means all conditioned and unconditioned phenomena are not-self.</p>
<p>Is not-self or Anatta a phenomenon?</p>

<anatman>
Is Anatta a phenomenon?
# Is Anatta a phenomenon?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-11-13)

Sabbe Dhamma Anatta. It means all conditioned and unconditioned phenomena are not-self.

Is not-self or Anatta a phenomenon?

**Tags:** anatman


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-11-13. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

The meanings of the word 'dhamma' are very broad. The root meaning of the word 'dhamma' is 'that which supports'.

> The word dharma has roots in the Sanskrit dhr-, which means to hold or
> to support, and is related to Latin firmus (firm, stable). From this,
> it takes the meaning of "what is established or firm", and hence
> "law". It is derived from an older Vedic Sanskrit n-stem dharman-,
> with a literal meaning of "bearer, supporter", in a religious sense
> conceived as an aspect of Rta.
>
> In the Rigveda, the word appears as an n-stem, dhárman-, with a range
> of meanings encompassing "something established or firm" (in the
> literal sense of prods or poles). Figuratively, it means "sustainer"
> and "supporter" (of deities). It is semantically similar to the Greek
> themis ("fixed decree, statute, law").
>
> [Wikipeadia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma#Etymology)

Therefore, anatta is certainly a 'dhamma'. [AN 3.136](https://suttacentral.net/an3.136/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=sidenotes&highlight=false&script=latin) says:

> Whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this
> regularity of natural principles, this invariance of natural
> principles:
>
> Uppādā vā, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ anuppādā vā tathāgatānaṁ ṭhitāva sā
> dhātu **dhamma**ṭṭhitatā **dhamma**niyāmatā.
>
> all things are not-self.
>
> Sabbe **dhammā** anattā.

While the word 'dhamma' is used [AN 3.136](https://suttacentral.net/an3.136/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=sidenotes&highlight=false&script=latin) is in relation to 'natural law', it is a 'dhamma' because the wisdom/understanding of anatta as natural law 'supports' liberation from suffering.

Whether the English word 'phenomenon' is relevant here is subject to discussion/debate. Buddhism is not really about English words. Buddhism says anatta is a characteristic (lakkhana) of everything. Whether a 'characteristic' is a 'phenomena' in English I do not know.

In summary, anatta is certainly a dhamma because it supports/upholds liberation.


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