Ruupa-paramattha is the reality that does not experience any aarammana. One ruupa depends on another ruupa to arise, there can never be just one ruupa arising alone, but a small group of ruupas that must arise together interdependently, impossible to separate or divide.  This is called a kalaapa.  There are at least 8 ruupas in a kalaapa.  The infinitesimal, indivisible group of smallest kalaapa or the 8 ruupas that are inseparable are called the eight avinibhoga-ruupas.  Four of these eight avinibhoga-ruupas are the mahaabhuuta-ruupas, the four principle, universal ruupas:

1.  Pathavi-dhaatu earth element, the ruupa which is soft or hard
2.  AApo-dhaatu water element, the ruupa that soaks, saturates or coheres
3.  Tejo-dhaatu fire element, the ruupa that is hot or cold
4.  Vaayo-dhaatu wind element, the ruupa of motion or tension

The four mahaabhuuta-ruupas are the conditions or basis upon which another four ruupas, called the four upaadaa-ruupas, arise, in the same kalaapa.  The upaadaa-ruupas are:
1.  Vanno     light and color, the upaadaa-ruupa that appears through the eyes
2.  Gandho smell, the upaadaa-ruupa that appears through the nose
3.  Raso taste, the upaadaa-ruupa that appears through the tongue
4.  Ojaa nutrition, the upaadaa-ruupa that conditions other ruupa to arise
The four upaadaa-ruupas are dependent on the four mahaabhuuta-ruupas to arise; the four mahaabhuuta-ruupas cannot exist alone without the four upaadaa-ruupas.  These eight ruupas cannot be separated.  They form the smallest group of ruupas that arises and falls away together very rapidly.  A kalaapa of ruupas lasts the length of time it takes 17 cittas to arise and fall away consecutively.

The four mahaabhuuta-ruupas arise together with the upaadaa-ruupas, with the mahaabhuuta-ruupas being the condition or base of the upaadaa-ruupas. The upaadaa-ruupas arise simultaneously with the mahaabhuuta-ruupas, and are dependent on the mahaabhuuta-ruupas to arise, but they are neither condition nor base for the mahaabhuuta-ruupas to appear.

There are altogether 28 ruupas; four mahaabhuuta-ruupas and 24 upaadaa-ruupas.  When the four mahaabhuuta-ruupas do not arise, there can be no upaadaa-ruupas.

Some of the rupas are asabhaava-ruupas without their own separate, distinct existence, but are properties of the kalaapa.

The 4 lakkhana-ruupas are stages in the existence of a kalaapa, divided into four lakkhana-ruupas.
1.  Upacaya-ruupa is the ruupa when it first arises.
2.  Santati-ruupa is the ruupa at the moment it develops.
3.  Jarataa-ruupa is the ruupa at the moment it declines.
 4.  Aniccataa-ruupa is the ruupa at the moment it falls away.

The fact that some rupas are hardly perceived by us, for example, is because sometimes the process of cittas arise too late to experience the kalaapa from its arising, therefore the javanas do not fully experience the ruupaaramma.na.

The pariccheda-ruupa (or aakaasa-ruupa), arise between the kalaapas, separating them.  Even the ‘collective ruupa’ that appears large can be divided infinitesimally because there is aakaasa-dhaatu (aakaasa-ruupa or pariccheda-ruupa) between kalaapas.  The pariccheda-ruupa is another asabhaava-ruupa without its own separate existence.

 No matter where or in which plane the ruupa arises, whether with or without life, it cannot be without these 13 ruupas.

 For the ruupa with life such as those in the planes of the five khandhas, there are five kinds of 5 pasaada-ruupas that originate from kamma (volition or deeds).

1. Cakkhuppasaada-ruupa, the ruupa with which visual object can come into contact
2. Sotappasaada-ruupa, the ruupa with which sound can come into contact
3. Ghaanappasaada-ruupa, the ruupa with which smell can come into contact
4. Jivhaappasaada-ruupa, the ruupa with which taste can come into contact
5. Kaayappasaada-ruupa, the ruupa with which cold or heat (fire element), softness or hardness (earth element), tension and motion (wind element) can come into contact.
The ruupa with life must arise with citta and each citta must arise at the appropriate ruupa according to the respective type of citta.  The cakkhu-vinnana sees; it arises at the cakkhuppasaada-ruupa.  Sota-vinnana hears; it arises at the sotappasaada-ruupa.  Ghaana-vinnana smells; it arises at the ghaanappasaada-ruupa.  Jivhaa-vinnana tastes; it arises at the jivhaappasaada-ruupa.  Kaaya-vinnana or body-sense experiences photthabba (the elements of earth, fire and wind); it arises at the kaayappasaada-ruupa.

Other cittas besides these arise at a ruupa called hadaya-ruupa (the ruupa where the citta arises).

Every kalaapa of the ruupa conditioned by kamma must be accompanied by jiivitindriya-ruupa.  Jiivitindriya-ruupa keeps the other ruupas accompanying it in each kalaapa alive. The ruupa of the living differ from the ruupa of those without life.

Two bhaava-ruupas differentiate people as women and men:
Itthibhaava-ruupa is the ruupa that permeates the entire body, manifested in the shape, size, state, manners and demeanor of the feminine gender.
Purisabhaava-ruupa is the ruupa that permeates the entire body, manifested in the shape, size, state, manners and demeanor of the masculine gender.
Each person would have one bhaava-ruupa or the other, namely itthibhaava-ruupa or purisabhaava-ruupa only, and some beings have none, such as those in the brahma world, and the asexual.

 Whe living things move, there must be ruupa arising from the citta.  If there were only ruupas arising from kamma, there could be no movement.  For ruupas of the body to move and function, there must be 3 vikaara-ruupas as follows:
 Lahutaa-ruupa is the state of lightness or non-heaviness of ruupa, such as the physical conditions of people without illness.
 Mudutaa-ruupa is the state of malleability or non-stiffness of ruupa, as in well-tanned leather.
 Kammannataa-ruupa is the state of rupa characterized by readiness for use, as in purified, molten gold.

 The three vikaara-ruupas are asabhaava-ruupas, without their own separate, distinct existences.  They constitute the special adaptable quality of the mahaabhuuta-ruupas, which is light, malleable and functional.

 The three vikaara-ruupas are ruupas that arise in living things.  Ruupas without life cannot have the three vikaara-ruupas.  The three vikaara-ruupas are inseparable: in the kalaapa where there is lahutaa-ruupa, there must also be mudutaa-ruupa and kammannataa-ruupa.  Furthermore, when the citta wants to move any part of the body, that part must have other vikaara-ruupas that arise from utu (appropriate and regular temperature) as condition, and also the ruupas that arise from ojaa-ruupa (nutrition).  Otherwise even if the citta wants to move, the ruupa cannot move, as in people with paralysis or weaknesses, etc.

 When the citta wants the ruupa with life to communicate non-verbally, then citta is condition for kaaya-vinnatti-ruupa, or the special state of ruupa that expresses meaning.  Kaaya-vinnatti-ruupa can also arise in the eyes or the face, in the demeanor or posture: a stern look, a contemptuous smile, etc.  If the citta does not desire that the ruupa exhibit signs, the kaaya-vinnatti-ruupa will not arise.

 Whenever citta is condition for sound to arise verbally as speech, or for sounds to be emitted in order to convey meaning, the citta is condition for vacii-vinnatti-ruupa to arise and come into contact with the articulators such as the lips.  If the vacii-vinnatti-ruupa does not arise, there can be no sonic emissions.

 Kaaya-vinnatti-ruupa and vacii-vinnatti-ruupa are asabhaava-ruupa that arise and fall away with the citta.

 Sound or sadda-ruupa is not a vacii-vinnatti-ruupa but the ruupa that comes into contact with the sotappasaada-ruupa, conditioning the arising of the sota-vinnana-citta.  Some sounds arise from citta; some do not, for example, thunder, wind, radio and television sounds.

 The number of ruupas differs in various sources.  For example the Atthasaalinii Ruupakandha, Pakinnakakathaa describes 25 ruupas, grouping the elements of earth, fire and wind together as photthabbaayatana (the ruupas that come into contact with the kaayappasaada-ruupa), plus one hadaya-ruupa, totaling 26 ruupas.
 

A samutthaana or origination of all ruupas, without which no ruupa can arise.  There are 4 samutthaanas comprising kamma, citta, utu and aahaara.

  Ruupa that arises from kamma as samutthaana is called kammaja-ruupa.
  Ruupa that arises from citta as samutthaana is called cittaja-ruupa.
  Ruupa that arises from utu as samutthaana is called utuja-ruupa.
  Ruupa that arises from aahaara as samutthaana is called aahaara-ruupa.

 There are 9 ruupas that arise specifically from kamma as samutthaana, never from other samutthaanas:

1. Cakkhuppasaada-ruupa
2. Sotappasaada-ruupa
3. Ghaanappasaada-ruupa
4. Jivhappasaada-ruupa
5.  Kaayappasaada-ruupa
6.  Itthibhaava-ruupa
7.  Purisabhaava-ruupa
8.  Hadaya-ruupa
9. Jiivitindriya-ruupa

Anything that seems alive but does not arise from akusala-kamma or kusala-kamma as samutthaana, such as plants, does not have these 9 kammaja-ruupas.

In some beings kamma is only samutthaana for hadaya-ruupa, which is the birth place of the citta as well as jiivitindriya-ruupa that arise concurrently with other kammaja-ruupas in every kammaja-kalaapa.  The asanniisattaa, who are brahma-puggala with only ruupa and no naama-dhamma would have only one kammaja-ruupa kalaapa, the kalaapa that has only the jiivitindriya-ruupa (no cakkhuppasaada-ruupa, sotappasaada-ruupa, ghaanappasaada-ruupa, jivhappasaada-ruupa, kaayappasaada-ruupa, itthibhaava-ruupa, purisabhaava-ruupa or hadaya-ruupa.)

These 9 kammaja-ruupas are upaadaa-ruupas therefore they must arise concurrently with the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas as follows:
1. Cakkhu-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of cakkhuppasaada-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + cakkhuppasaada-ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
2. Sota-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of sotappasaada-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + sotappasaada-ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
3. Ghaana-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of ghaanappasaada-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + ghaanappasaada -ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
4. Jivhaa-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of jivhappasaada-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + jivhaappasaada-ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
5. Kaaya-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of kaayappasaada-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + kaayappasaada-ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
6. Itthibhaava-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of itthibhaava-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + itthibhaava-ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
7. Purisabhaava-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of purisabhaava-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupa): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + purisabhaava-ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
8. Hadaya-dasaka-kalaapa (The group of hadaya-ruupa, which comprises 10 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + hadaya-ruupa + jiivitindriya-ruupa.
9. Jiivita-navaka-kalaapa (The group of jiivita-ruupa, which comprises 9 ruupas): the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + jiivitindriya-ruupa.

These kammaja-kalaapas arise concurrently at the upaada-khana of the patisandhi-citta respective to the specific bhuumi as well as with every anu-khana, namely upaada-khana, thiti-khana and bhanga-khana of each citta, and will stop arising 17 instants before the cuti-citta.  Therefore, the kammaja-ruupas will all fall away simultaneously with the cuti-citta.

 Kammaja-ruupa that arises simultaneously with the patisandhi-citta in the human plane, which is the jalaabuja birth (birth in the womb), comprises 3 kalaapas: hadaya-dasaka-kalaapa, kaaya-dasaka-kalaapa and bhaava-dasaka-kalaapa.  As one grows up, the cakkhu-dasaka-kalaapa, sota-dasaka-kalaapa, ghaana-dasaka-kalaapa and jivhaa-dasaka-kalaapa would arise at the appropriate time of the distinct kalaapa.

 Those who are born in the opapaatika birth (birth with all physical attributes at once), like the deva, peta, asurakaaya, and those born in hell, have all 7 kalaapas of kammaja-ruupa at once at the moment of patisandhi: hadaya-dasaka-kalaapa, kaaya-dasaka-kalaapa, bhaava-dasaka-kalaapa, cakkhu-dasaka-kalaapa, sota-dasaka-kalaapa, ghaana-dasaka-kalaapa and jivhaa-dasaka-kalaapa.  But if any kind of kamma is not paccaya for the respective kind of ruupa to arise, that ruupa will not arise whether in the patisandhi-kaala (the instant patisandhi-citta arises) or in the pavatti-kaala or the instants after patisandhi.

 Those who are born as the brahma-puggalas in the ruupa-brahma-bhuumi of opapaatika birth have only 4 kalaapas of kammaja-ruupas: hadaya-dasaka-kalaapa, cakkhu-dasaka-kalaapa, sota-dasaka-kalaapa and jiivita-navaka-kalaapa.  They do not have ghaana-dasaka-kalaapa, jivhaa-dasaka-kalaapa, kaaya-dasaka-kalaapa and bhaava-dasaka-kalaapa, which are results of restraint over pleasure in the kaamaarammana with the power of the jhaana-citta, which is paccaya for birth as ruupa-brahma-puggala.

 Those who are asanniisattaa-brahmas, or brahma with only ruupa-dhamma and none of the naama-dhamma whatsoever, have only one kammaja-ruupa kalaapa, the jiivita-navaka-kalaapa.  To be born an asanniisattaa-brahma is the result of the pañcama-jhaana that abandons pleasure in naama-dhamma because of the realization that naama-dhamma evolves with kilesa so there is aspiration not to have naama-dhamma.  Whenever the pañcama-jhaana-kusala-citta does not waver and arises before the cuti-citta with the disillusionment of naama-dhamma, there is paccaya for ruupa to patisandhi in the asanniisattaa-brahma-bhuumi with the life span of 500 kappas.  With no naama-dhamma arising there would be no movement of any kind.  When cuti-citta arises (before becoming an asanniisattaa-brahma) with whatever physical position, the ruupa-patisandhi of the asanniisattaa-brahma would be in that position until it would cuti.  Then a kusala-dhamma would be paccaya for patisandhi and other kammaja-ruupas to arise in the kaama-sugati-bhuumi in the continuing cycle of kilesa, kamma and vipaaka as long as kilesa has not been completely eradicated.
 

Cittaja-ruupa

 There are 4 kalaapas of ruupa that arise from utu.
1. Suddhatthaka-kalaapa arise with only the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas and none other.  In the ruupa with life when the patisandhi-citta arises, at the upaada-khana, thiti-khana and bhanga-khana of the patisandhi-citta there would be kammaja-ruupas arising, as said earlier.  But in the thiti-khana of the same patisandhi-citta, the utu or the fire element in the kammaja-kalaapa that arises would be samutthaana for utuja-ruupa that is suddhatthaka-kalaapa to arise and the utuja-suddhatthaka-kalaapas would arise in the thiti-khanas of the subsequent ruupas.
2. Sadda-navaka-kalaapa, the group of sound which comprises 9 ruupas as follows: the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + sadda-ruupa.  The sound that does not arise from citta as samutthaana for vacii-vinnatti-ruupa to come into contact with the articulators arises from utu as samutthaana such as the sound of cars, of waterfalls etc.
3. Lahutaadi-ekaadasaka-kalaapa, the group of 3 vikaara-ruupas comprising 11 ruupas: the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + the 3 vikaara-ruupas.  Utu would be a samutthaana that produces a ruupa that is light, soft and taskworthy.  When utu is not regular, illness arises and any part of the body without vikaara-ruupa would not be able to move even when there is citta as samutthaana willing that body part to move.
4. Sadda-lahutaadi-dvadasaka-kalaapa, the group of 3 vikaara-ruupas comprising 12 ruupas: the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + the 3 vikaara-ruupas + sadda-ruupa.  The group of vikaara-ruupas with sound concurrently arising such as snapping the fingers, clapping the hands etc.

  The ruupas that arise from the ojaa-ruupas in the kavalinkaaraahaara or food eaten comprises 2 kalaapas.  The aahaaraja-kalaapas can only arise within the bodies of animals and people.  The 2 aahaaraja-kalaapas are:
 1. Suddhatthaka-kalaapa comprising uniquely the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas alone.
 2. Lahutaadi-ekaadasaka-kalaapa, the group of vikaara-ruupas comprising 11 ruupas: the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas + the 3 vikaara-ruupas.  Other than citta and utu, aahaara is another samutthaana for the 3 vikaara-ruupas to arise.  If there were only the vikaara-ruupas that arise form utu, lacking aahaara or with fine weather but no food, the vikaara-ruupas would not have enough strength to move with ease and agility.

 The aahaaraja-ruupa that depends on the distribution of the ojaa in food taken orally would arise in the thiti-khana of the ojaa-ruupa that is its samutthaana.

 Altogether each ruupa arises from one of the four samutthaanas as follows:
The 8 avinibhoga-ruupas can arise from 4 samutthaanas:
 some kalaapa from kamma as samutthaana.
 some kalaapa from citta as samutthaana.
 some kalaapa from utu as samutthaana.
some kalaapa from aahaara as samutthaana.

The 5 pasaada-ruupas arise uniquely from kamma as samutthaana.
The 2 bhaava-ruupas arise uniquely from kamma as samutthaana.
The hadaya-ruupa arises uniquely from kamma as samutthaana.
The jiivitindriya-ruupa   arises uniquely from kamma as samutthaana.
The 3 vikaara-ruupas arise from 3 samutthaanas:
 some kalaapa from citta as samutthaana.
 some kalaapa from utu as samutthaana.
some kalaapa from aahaara as samutthaana.
The 2 vinnatti-ruupas arise uniquely from citta as samutthaana.
The sadda-ruupa arises from 2 samutthaanas:
 some kalaapas from citta as samutthaana.
 some kalaapas from utu as samutthaana.
The pariccheda-ruupa arises from 4 samutthaanas:
 arises from kamma as samutthaana when it interposes between kalaapa that arise from kamma as samutthaana.
 arises from citta as samutthaana when it interposes between kalaapas that arise from citta as samutthaana.
 arises from utu as samutthaana when it interposes between kalaapas that arise from utu as samutthaana.
 arises from aahaara as samutthaana when it interposes between kalaapas that arise from aahaara as samutthaana.
The 4 lakkhana-ruupas do not arise from any samutthaana because they are only the characteristics [of different stages] of the 18 sabhaava-ruupas.

The 28 ruupas can be categorized from several perspectives:

1.  The 18 sabhaava-ruupas are ruupas with their individual characteristics comprising the 8 avinibhoga-ruupas, 5 pasaada-ruupas, 2 bhaava-ruupas, hadaya-ruupa, jiivitindriya-ruupa, sadda-ruupa, altogether there are 18 ruupas.
The 10 asabhaava-ruupas are ruupas without their individual characteristics comprising the 3 vikaara-ruupas, 2 vinnatti-ruupas, pariccheda-ruupa and 4 lakkhana-ruupas.

2.  The 5 ajjhattika-ruupas are the ruupas within comprising the 5 pasaada-ruupas.
The 23 baahira-ruupas  are the ruupas without/outside comprising the remaining 23 ruupas.

3.  The 6 vatthu-ruupas are the ruupas which are the birthplaces of the cittas comprising the 5 pasaada-ruupas and the hadaya-ruupa.
The 22 avatthu-ruupas comprise the remaining 22 ruupas.

4.  The 7 dvaara-ruupas is the ruupa through which one receives aarammana comprising the 5 pasaada-ruupas and the medium to convey the kaaya-kamma and vacii-kamma, namely kaaya-vinnatti-ruupa and vacii-vinnatti-ruupa.
The 21 advaara-ruupas comprise the remaining 21 ruupas.

5.  The 8 indriya-ruupas are the 8 ruupas eminent in their specific functions comprising the 5 pasaada-ruupas, 2 bhaava-ruupas and jiivitindriya-ruupa.
The 20 anindriya-ruupas comprise the remaining 20 ruupas.

6.  The 12 olaarika-ruupas are the 12 coarse ruupas comprising 7 visaya-ruupas (ruupa that are aarammanas through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body sense) and 5 pasaada-ruupas.
The 16 sukhuma-ruupas are the refined ruupas comprising the remaining 16 ruupas.

7.  The 12 santike-ruupas are the near ruupas (ruupas that are easily perceptible) comprising the 5 pasaada-ruupas and 7 visaya-ruupas.
The 16 duure-ruupas are the far ruupas (ruupas that are difficult to comprehend and realize) comprising the remaining 16 ruupas.

8.  The 12 sappatigha-ruupas  are the ruupas that can come into contact comprising the 5 pasaada-ruupas and 7 visaya-ruupas.

The 16 appatigha-ruupas are the ruupas that cannot come into contact comprising the remaining 16 ruupas.

9.  The 5 gocaraggaahika-ruupas are the ruupas that can come into contact with aarammanas comprising the 5 pasaada-ruupas.
The 23 agocaraggaahika-ruupas are the ruupas that cannot come into contact with aarammana comprising the remaining 23 ruupas.

10.  The 8 avinibhoga-ruupas are the 8 inseparable ruupas.
The 20 vinibhoga-ruupas are the remaining 20 separable ruupas.

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