# Why believe in Kalapas?

**URL:** <https://classicaltheravada.org/t/why-believe-in-kalapas/1132>\
**Category:** General Theravada topics\
**Created:** [February 28, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/why-believe-in-kalapas/1132 "2024-02-28T10:54:39Z")\
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**Author:** ![LifelessAtta](https://classicaltheravada.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/2acd7d/32.png) [@LifelessAtta](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/LifelessAtta)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/why-believe-in-kalapas/1132/1 "2024-02-28T10:54:40Z")

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The Pa Auk system teaches kalapas. So I guess the Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadaw thinks the Buddha believed in the existence of kalapas?  
Yet Wikipedia says that the concept of kalapa is very late:

> Kalapas are not mentioned in the earliest Buddhists texts, such as the Tripitaka, but only in the Abhidhammattha-sangaha, an Abhidhamma commentary dated to the 11th or 12th century, and as such not part of common Theravada doctrine.

> **[Wikiwand - Kalapa (atomism)](https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Kalapa_(atomism))**
>
> Kalapa or rupa-kalapa is a term in Theravada Buddhist phenomenology for the smallest units of physical matter, said to be about 1/46,656th the size of a particle of dust from a wheel of chariot.  
> Kalapas are not mentioned in the earliest Buddhists...

So why should we believe that the Buddha taught the concept of kalapa? And if he didn’t, why should a Buddhist use this concept in his practice?

Thanks in advance

May all beings be safe

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