(Skt., element of phenomena’; Tib., chos.kyi.dbyings , ‘expanse of phenomena’). A term in Buddhist philosophy which began as a H nay na concept, indicating the true nature of phenomena as ultimately specific entities subject to dependent origination (Skt., prat tyasamutp da ; P l paticcasammup da ), but which grew in importance in the Mah y na to describe the true nature of all phenomena collectively as indivisible and empty ( nyat ) of own-being ( svabh va nya