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# Akalika

#### Timelessness, A synonym for Arahantship, An attribute of the Dhamma

References:
SN 2.12.33: C.A.F. Rhys Davids: "He by this doctrine which is seen, discerned, not a matter of time, won, plunged into, shapes his way of thought both as to the past and the future thus: ..." She footnotes: 'Instant in fruition,' Vis. M. 216.

* indicates unchecked, unstandardized external referencing system

Pāḷi | MO | Hare | Horner | Punnaji | Bodhi | Nanamoli | Rhys Davids | (Mrs)Rhys Davids | Thanissaro | Upalavana | Walshe | Woodward | Warren
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Akālika | Timeless, Outside of time |  | [on kālika] of the present, involving time, not immediate |  |  |  |  | Not a matter of time |  |  |  | Not subject to time |

Pāḷi Text Society
Pāḷi English Dictionary
Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
[EDITED ENTRY]

Kālika. (adj.) [from kāla 2] belonging to time, in time, as sabba-kālika always in time, cp. Gr. ὡραῖος Vv 392; with time, i. e. gradual, slowly, delayed S I.117 = Nd2 645; usually negative
akālika 1. not delayed, immediate, in this world, comb. with sandiṭṭhika S II.58; S I.117 = IV.41 = 339 = V.343;-2. subject to time, i. e. temporal, vanishing PvA 87;-3. unusual, out of season Miln 114 (cp. akāla).

A Dictionary of the Pāḷi Language
Robert Caesar Childers
[EDITED ENTRY]

Akāliko Without delay, immediate.

Pāḷi Text Society
A Dictionary of Pāli
Margaret Cone
[EDITED ENTRY]

Kālika. 1. dependent on time; relating to or limited to a particular time (now or in the future, ie temporary or delayed); what is dependent on time; what belongs to the future. Vin I 252; M I 474; S I 9, 8; 2. [extracted from tāvakālika...] a particular time limit; what has a particular time limit ...
akālika. 1. not dependent on time; not limited to a particular tiime; immediate, immediately effective. S IV 339, 16; D II 93, 32; A I 158, 37...

Ñánavíra on Citta, see footnote: "The notion of two successive 'moments', A and B, as akálika or non-temporal is a confusion. Either A and B are simultaneous (as e.g. viññána and námarúpa), in which case they are indeed akálika; or B follows A and they are successive (as e.g. the in-&-out-breaths), in which case they are kálika."

I think this is sometimes the intended meaning in the Pāḷi, sometimes not. When one speaks of the simultaneous arising of nama/rupa+consciousness the meaning is simultaneity; when one speaks of consciousness depending on nama/rupa or other cases of 'fruition' the use is without interval, immediately successive.

It is probably most useful here to go to the ultimate roots: a = no; ka = shit; li = line; ka = shit. The track of scat left by an animal. The hunter sees: This is the track a week old, this is only two days old, this is from yesterday, and here it is now, eating. That would point to the original meaning of the term to be closer to successive than to simultaneity.

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