acinteyyāni

(Pāli). Term denoting matters which are incomprehensible or unfathomable. These are commonly divided into four ‘spheres’ (visaya) concerning matters relating to the nature of (1) the Buddha; (2) the meditative absorptions (dhyāna); (3) karma and karmic retribution; and (4) the world (loka-cintā), particularly concerning whether it had a first beginning. Brooding on these four questions is said to be unproductive and unprofitable.