In chapter 2, "The Twofold Method of Abhidhamma Philosophy," Ven. Nyanaponika reiterates the claim that Abhidhamma Philosophy is an instance of phenomenology rather than ontology. (In his introductory essay, Bhikkhu Bodhi makes a reasonable argument for regarding it as both, provided one adopts a suitably broad definition of "ontology" [p. xvi].) The twofold method to which he refers is that of analysis (represented in the Dharmasanganī) combined with the investigation of the relations/conditionality of things (represented in the Patthana). "The mere juxtaposition of these two basic schemata," he writes, "already allows us to formulate an important axiom of Buddhist philosophy: a complete description of a thing requires, besides its analysis, also a statement of its relations to other things" (p. 22). Investigating relations between things naturally leads to a discussion of time (samaya), dependent origination (paṭicca-samuppāda), and insubstantiality (sunnatā). Even a single moment of consciousness ("the smallest accessible psychic unit") is regarded not as atomic but rather as "a correlational system of its factors, functions, energies, or aspects" (i.e., dhammā) (p. 23).