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yathābhūtaṁ

yathābhūta

neuter nominative singular (or accusative) of yathābhūta (adjective)

1. as it really is
2. in truth
3. according to reality

Built from

• yathā — root · as, in the manner that
  An ancient pronomial form meaning 'in which way' or 'as'; the concrete image is of tracking along the same path as something else.
• abh- — prefix · toward and over
  From abhi- (bearing down on, facing); here it intensifies the sense of 'becoming'.
• bhū- — root · become, arise
  Related to English 'be'; carries the sense of something coming into being or taking its present form.
• -ta — ending · past participle
  Forms the adjective 'become, arisen'; marks the passive completion of the process of arising.

Analysis. yathā (as, in the manner that) + abhūta (become, arisen); the compound means 'as [things] have become', i.e. in their true nature without distortion. In Buddhist doctrine, yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti means 'understands as it really is', the direct perception that is the core of insight (vipassanā).

Etymology. yathā is an old instrumental form of yat- (which, what); abhūta is the past participle of bhavati (to become, be). The phrase freezes a moment of becoming — seeing things in their actual state of arising, not through conceptual overlay or craving.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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