<p>In the essay <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Seven Factors of Enlightenment</a>, Piyadassi Thera wrote in the footnotes:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Keen investigation of the dhamma (dhammavicaya)</p>
  
  <p><em>Dhamma</em> is a multisignificant term. Here it means mind and matter (<em>nama-rupa</em>); <em>dhammavicaya</em> is the investigation or analysis of this
  conflux of mind and body, and all component and conditioned things.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In Bhikkhu Nanamoli's work on the <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification)</a>, he referred to <em>dhammavicaya</em> as investigation-of-states.</p>

<p>In the book <a href="http://www.vipassana.com/resources/box/dhammajiva-sevenfactors-vf10p.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Seven Factors of Enlightenment</a>, Ven. Dhammajiva wrote:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When you are mindful, you are able to investigate the primary object.
  Investigation (<em>dhammavicaya</em>) is what differentiates <em>samatha</em> from
  <em>vipassanā</em>.   <em>Dhamma</em> is mind and matter and <em>vicaya</em> is investigation. <em>Dhammavicaya</em> is investigation into the operation of
  mind and matter</p>
  
  <p>In the <em>samatha</em> practice, you dwell on the concentration that is
  being developed, but there is no exploration or penetration into the
  phenomena.    So the mind  superficially observes the objects without
  much investigation or understanding of their true nature.</p>
  
  <p>To work with investigation of the <em>dhamma</em>, you must penetrate into
  the phenomena. A yogi must directly note all mind objects and matter
  (<em>nāma</em> and <em>rūpa</em>) that arise at each of the six sense doors during
  the practice. Become familiar with them, investigate them and
  penetrate into their true characteristics. This is the <em>vipassanā</em>
  practice.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-25T16:35:03.897Z
2019-08-25T16:42:01.920Z
2019-08-25T16:42:01.920Z
ruben2020
<p>The sutta says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Abiding thus mindful, he investigates and examines that state (dhammaṃ) with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it. On whatever occasion,
  abiding thus mindful, a bhikkhu investigates and examines that state (dhammaṃ) with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it—on that occasion
  the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor is aroused in him,
  and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The word 'dhammaṃ' above is 'singular' (rather than plural). Therefore, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo (the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor) appears to mean examining satisambojjhaṅgo (the mindfulness enlightenment factor) with wisdom.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-25T19:18:37.863Z
2019-08-25T19:18:37.863Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>What is the exact meaning of the second factor of Enlightenment 'Dhammavicaya'? Does it mean: enquiry of the Dhamma (buddhasasana)? Or is it the enquiry (= tilakkhana) of all dhammas i.c. all phenomena? Or both?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-25T16:34:56.887Z
For a full description, please see Ven. Piyadassi "Seven Factors of Enlightnment" at: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.html
santa100
<abhidhamma>
What is the meaning of Dhammavicaya
# What is the meaning of Dhammavicaya

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-25)

What is the exact meaning of the second factor of Enlightenment 'Dhammavicaya'? Does it mean: enquiry of the Dhamma (buddhasasana)? Or is it the enquiry (= tilakkhana) of all dhammas i.c. all phenomena? Or both?

**Tags:** abhidhamma

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: For a full description, please see Ven. Piyadassi "Seven Factors of Enlightnment" at: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.html  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-08-25. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

The sutta says:

> Abiding thus mindful, he investigates and examines that state (dhammaṃ) with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it. On whatever occasion,
> abiding thus mindful, a bhikkhu investigates and examines that state (dhammaṃ) with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it—on that occasion
> the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor is aroused in him,
> and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.

The word 'dhammaṃ' above is 'singular' (rather than plural). Therefore, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo (the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor) appears to mean examining satisambojjhaṅgo (the mindfulness enlightenment factor) with wisdom.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-08-25. Score: -1

In the essay [The Seven Factors of Enlightenment](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.html), Piyadassi Thera wrote in the footnotes:

> Keen investigation of the dhamma (dhammavicaya)
>
> *Dhamma* is a multisignificant term. Here it means mind and matter (*nama-rupa*); *dhammavicaya* is the investigation or analysis of this
> conflux of mind and body, and all component and conditioned things.

In Bhikkhu Nanamoli's work on the [Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf), he referred to *dhammavicaya* as investigation-of-states.

In the book [The Seven Factors of Enlightenment](http://www.vipassana.com/resources/box/dhammajiva-sevenfactors-vf10p.pdf), Ven. Dhammajiva wrote:

> When you are mindful, you are able to investigate the primary object.
> Investigation (*dhammavicaya*) is what differentiates *samatha* from
> *vipassanā*. *Dhamma* is mind and matter and *vicaya* is investigation. *Dhammavicaya* is investigation into the operation of
> mind and matter
>
> In the *samatha* practice, you dwell on the concentration that is
> being developed, but there is no exploration or penetration into the
> phenomena. So the mind superficially observes the objects without
> much investigation or understanding of their true nature.
>
> To work with investigation of the *dhamma*, you must penetrate into
> the phenomena. A yogi must directly note all mind objects and matter
> (*nāma* and *rūpa*) that arise at each of the six sense doors during
> the practice. Become familiar with them, investigate them and
> penetrate into their true characteristics. This is the *vipassanā*
> practice.


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