Conceptual proliferation

In Buddhism, conceptual proliferation (or mental proliferation) (Pali: papañca, Sanskrit: prapañca, Chinese: 戲論) refers to conceptualization of the world through the use of ever-expanding language and concepts. The translation of papañca as conceptual proliferation was first made by Katukurunde Nyanananda Thera in his research monograph Concept and Reality.

The term is mentioned in a variety of suttas in the Pali canon, such as the Madhupindika Sutta (MN 18), and is mentioned in Mahayana Buddhism as well. When referencing the concepts derived from this process, such concepts are referred to in Pali as papañca-saññā-sankhā. Nippapañca is the diametrical opposition of papañca.

See also

• Monkey mind
• Nibbana-The Mind Stilled

References

• Ñāṇananda, Bhikkhu Kaṭukurunde (2012) [1971], Concept and Reality in Early Buddhist Thought - An Essay on Papañca and Papañca-Saññâ-Saṅkhāra (PDF), Buddhist Publication Society, ISBN 955-24-0136-4 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu Ninoslav. "Papañca-Saññā-Sankhā - An Essay". Retrieved 15 October 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

• Exploring the Honeyball Sutta, An Alternative Nidana Chain a more intelligible audio version
• Getting Away From Prapanca, The Practical Applications of the Honeyball Sutta a more intelligible audio version
• Dharma talk on papañca by Christina Feldman