Summary
of Paramatthadhamma Part II
by
Sujin Boriharnwanaket
Summary of Citta
Chapter 9
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The 89
different citta are organized by the kinds of bhumi or levels of citta
into 4 bhumi, comprising
1. kamavacara-bhumi
2. rupavacara-bhumi
3. arupavacara-bhumi
4. lokuttara-bhumi
The
citta of the kamavacara-bhumi comprise the 54 kamavacara-citta. In
the Atthasalini Cittuppadakandha there is an explanation of kamavacara-citta
from 4 perspectives saying
First aspect, the term 'kamavacara' means citta among the kamavacara-dhamma or is in the kama level (the complete term is kamavacara but can be shortened as kama) by wandering round in kama or sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact. The citta is of the kama level, kamavacara-citta.
Every
moment in our daily life is kamavacara-citta whenever it is not of a finer
and more intricate level than kama. When kusala-citta is developed
to a more peaceful level by having rupa as arammana until the citta is
more steadfast in the appana-samadhi level or the jhana-citta with rupa
as arammana. Then it is rupavacara-bhumi or rupavacara-citta, beyond
the level of kama. And when the citta is even more peaceful and steadfast
by being the citta that is deeply tranquil in the arammana that is beyond
rupa or arupavacara-citta. And the citta that is even finer and more
intricate than arupavacara-citta is the lokuttara-citta that fully realizes
the characteristics of nibbana, so it is of the lokuttara-bhumi.
Thus citta differ in their bhumi, the 89 citta are categorized as follows:
54 kamavacara-citta
15 rupavacara-citta
12 arupavacara-citta
8 lokuttara-citta
Whenever
a citta is not rupavacara-citta, arupavacara-citta or lokuttara-citta,
that instant is kamavacara-citta.
Called "kama" because of the meaning what entities desire. There are two kama, kilesa-kama and vatthu-kama.
Kilesa-kama is the chanda-raga or lobha-cetasika, a reality that is pleased with or attached to arammana.
Vatthu-kama is the reality on which pleasure and desire is based. Therefore vatthu-kama is vatta which evolve in the 3 bhumi, kamavacara-bhumi, rupavacara-bhumi and arupavacara-bhumi since they are not beyond the objects of kilesa-kama as long as lobha is not eradicated there would be vatthu-kama or realities in which kama-kilesa takes pleasure.
Kamavacara-citta that takes pleasure in sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact is very tenacious. The rupa appears only for the briefest instant or only when it comes into contact with cakkhuppasada or the eye, sound appears only for the briefest moment or when it comes into contact with the sotappasada, smell, taste and bodysense contact likewise, are all paritta-dhamma, or realities that appear only briefly and fall away. Citta is still pleased and attached to these paritta-dhamma because of their rapid continuation in the arising and falling away which makes them appear not to fall away.
The pleasure
in kamarammana or sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact is infinite.
Even though sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact has fallen
away but others arise in continuation causing pleasure and clinging to
the said objects continually. When one sees any sight that is pleasing,
one wishes to see it often, when one hears a pleasing sound, one wishes
to hear it again, the same is true for smell, taste and bodysense contact.
When one has tasted pleasant things, one wishes to have it again and again.
The pleasure one takes in sight, sound, smell, taste, bodysense contact
arise daily repeatedly through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense
and mind.
When
we like something and wish to see it all the time, is it possible?
No, because normally all sankhara-dhamma arise and fall away. When
deliciousness appears, pleasure through the tongue arises. At that
instant pleasure through the eyes, ears, nose and bodysense do not arise.
When pleasure in smell arises, at that moment pleasure through the eyes,
ears, tongue and bodysense do not arise because citta arises one at a time
only. There can not be two citta arising simultaneously. Everyone
is pleased with things that alternately appear through the eyes, ears,
nose, tongue, bodysense and mind, not only in just one color, sound, smell,
taste and bodysense contact. This is because pleasure in sight, sound,
smell, taste and bodysense contact accumulated on and on in continuation
from the past through the present and to the future.
Therefore kamavacara-citta or citta that wanders through sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact is the citta that is pleased in sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact. It cannot emancipate beyond sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact. Some say they made merit and wished to be born in heaven. Heaven is not beyond sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact but with a more refined kamarammana than in the human world.
Therefore from birth to death when the citta is not as peaceful as in the appana-samadhi level or when it is not jhana-citta and not lokuttara-citta, at that moment it is kamavacara-citta. Asleep or awake, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact and thinking, all these consciousness are not entities, persons or the selves but citta of the kama-vacara level or the kama-vacara-citta.
Those who are not an Anagami or an Arahanta would still take pleasure in sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact, which shows how difficult it is to abandon pleasure in kamarammana that appears through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind. Even though tranquility is developed to the level of jhana-citta and one is born in the Brahma world, one cannot be able to eradicate pleasure in sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact completely. While one is not yet Anagami, one must return to being as such, pleased by sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind. Therefore one should not be careless about kilesa and must understand realities as they really are and with reason to be able to develop panna that could really eradicate kilesa completely.
The term 'kamavacara' means citta among the kamavacara-dhamma. A passage in the Atthasalini states that the planes of kamavacara-dhamma, from avici, the lowest hell, to the highest deva plane of Paranimmitavasavatti are all kamarammana planes.
The word
vatthu-kama
has a broader meaning than sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact
because no matter the reality if it is the basis of pleasure then it is
vatthu-kama. When one is born as a brahma-puggala in the brahma-bhumi,
the brahma world is vatthu-kama, or basis of pleasure for the rupa- brahma-puggala.
For those born in the arupa-brahma world, the arupa-brahma-bhumi could
be their vatthu-kama, or basis of pleasure for the arupa- brahma-
puggala.
Lobha-cetasika is the reality that takes pleasure in and is attached to
all arammana except lokuttara-dhamma. Therefore except for lokuttara-dhamma,
all dhamma can be vatthu-kama, or basis, the object of pleasure of lobha.
The first aspect of kamavacara-citta is that it is the citta of the kama level, not beyond kama.
The Second aspect is that the citta wanders around in the 11 kama-bhumi of which there are 4 apaya-bhumi, 1 manussa-bhumi (human plane) and the 6 deva-bhumi.
Third is that it is called kamavacara-citta because it wanders around with the efficiency of rendering [objects] arammana or that sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact would travel through the citta with the efficiency of [the citta in] rendering [objects] arammana. Thus it is called kamavacara.
To facilitate
comprehension one might say that any citta involved with kama or sight,
sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact as arammana is a kamavacara-citta.
Fourth, in addition any citta renders the patisandhi which wanders through kama or the kama plane (the four apaya-bhumi, one human and six heaven or deva planes) that citta is called kamavacara.
Everyone is in this human world because kamavacara-citta caused kama-patisandhi-citta to arise in the manussa-bhumi, which is a kama-bhumi.
One who develops samatha-bhavana until the citta reaches the level of appana-samadhi of peacefulness as rupa-jhana-citta or arupa-jhana-citta. If the jhana-citta does not decline, and it arises before the cuti-citta, the jhana-kusala-citta would not be paccaya for birth in this world but in the rupa-brahma or arupa-brahma world according to the level of the distinct jhana. To be born a human is the result of kamavacara-kusala such as dhana, sila, samatha-bhavana and the development of sati-patthana that is not beyond kama, therefore causing patisandhi in kama-bhumi.
The word 'bhumi' has 2 meanings: 1 the citta as bhumi of sampayutta-dhamma or cetasika-dhamma that arise concurrently, and 2 the 'okasa' (place, occasion) or the birth place of worldly creatures. The human is one of 31 birth places [planes or bhumi].
Since the citta differ in kinds and each kind greatly varies in intricacy, the bhumi where worldly creatures were born would be distinct, there is not only the human plane, or this world alone. And even for the kamavacara-kusala, the strength of saddha, panna and other sampayutta-dhamma or concurrent cetasika of the instant, would be diversely intricate and would organize the result or birth in different bhumi, not only in the human one.
The same applies to akusala-kamma. While any kind of akusala-kamma is being done, if one takes note, one would see the difference in the gravity of the akusala-dhamma of the action. Sometimes it is composed of much vengeance; others not. Sometimes lacking endeavor, with no diligence or effort to hurt or harm, only an action composed of little intention yet resulting in the death of some small creatures. Since each past kamma was composed of sampayutta-dhamma or cetasika of different levels, the said akusala-kamma would be paccaya organizing akusala-vipaka-citta to perform patisandhi-kicca, or birth, in the four distinct bhumi.
Since kusala-kamma and akusala-kamma, which are causes for future results, differ intricately, the birth bhumi which are appropriate to the diverse kamma would be numerous, not only the manussa-bhumi.
The word 'bhumi' means 'okasa-loka', which is the birthplace of worldly creatures of which there are 31 bhumi respective to the levels of citta comprising 11 kama-bhumi, 16 rupa-brahma-bhumi and 4 arupa-brahma-bhumi. Altogether there are 31 bhumi or levels of okasa-loka. Each level has a number of birthplaces, for example, even the human plane is not unique, there are other human worlds.
The 11 kama-bhumi comprise 4 apaya-bhumi, 1 manussa and 6 deva summarized as:
The 4 apaya-bhumi comprise hell, animals, pittivisaya and asurakaya.
There is not only one hell or netherworld. There are many major hell-worlds such as sanjiva, kalasutta, sanghata, roruva, maharoruva, tapana, mahatapana and avici. Besides these major hells there are minor ones about which not much is mentioned in the Tipitaka because the intention of the Buddha was to manifest the causes and results of kusala-kamma and akusala-kamma through various births and planes. Whatever cannot be seen clearly and realized fully with one's own eyes would not merit so much attention as realities that can be proven by the development of panna.
Birth
in the 4 apaya-bhumi is resulted of akusala-kamma, when the akusala-kamma
is great, one is born in hell. If the akusala-kamma is very great
one is
born in avici hell where the torture is unbearable. And when that
term is over, one would be born in smaller hells since the results of the
akusala-kamma are still effective. While one is performing akusala-kamma,
one does not consider that hell is waiting, that one has not arrived there
only because one is still in this world. As long as we are still
this person in this world, we would not yet leave for the next even though
the cause or the akusala-kamma is there. Past performed akusala-kamma is
paccaya to make one go to one apaya-bhumi or another when one has died.
The results of lesser akusala-kamma are paccaya for birth in other apaya-bhumi such as birth as an animal. One can see that animals have various curious shapes and features. Some have many legs, some few, others none. Some have wings, some none. Some live in water, some on land. The numerous variation of shapes and features are according to the intricacies of the citta. All humans have eyes, ears, noses, tongues and bodies but they still are different in complexion and height no matter how numerous people are in this world, in the past, present and future. Animals are more distinctly intricate than humans. There are aquatic, land and aerial animals that vary according to their kamma which are the causes of different complex shapes.
The results of lesser akusala-kamma are paccaya for birth in the plane of peta or pittivisaya. The peta suffers from perpetual hunger and their plane is of diverse complexities.
All humans suffer from a chronic illness: hunger. One cannot deny that hunger is indeed a disease. Acute hunger would make itself felt. When one feels slightly hungry and takes food, if the food is good one would forget that hunger is not the feeling of well-being, rather it is to be attenuated and remedied. Those who are very hungry but do not receive nutrition would know the suffering of hunger and how it could be in worst cases.
One day
a certain popular person received so many telephone calls from morning
till evening and did not have time for meals. By evening he had learned
the torture of intense hunger but was unable to quickly take food to satisfy
his hunger because that would have caused fainting spells. He had
to slowly and gradually remedy his hunger but nonetheless fainted.
This shows how hunger is a major disease, a common everyday disease among
nameless others. Imagine then how hungry a peta must be. In
the peta plane there is no commerce, no agriculture so there can be no
rice production, no cooking or trading with others for food. To be
born a peta is the result of akusala-kamma. Whenever a peta anumodhana
(has sympathetic joy) and congratulates others that had done kusala and
dedicated it to him, the kusala-citta of that anumodhana would be paccaya
for him to receive appropriate food for his plane of existence, or even
allow him to escape from being a peta by leaving that life and being born
in another plane, having expiated the
results
of the kamma that made him a peta.
Another apaya-bhumi is the asurakaya. Birth as asurakaya is the result of akusala-kamma that is lighter than other akusala-kamma. The asurakaya does not have any entertainment, unlike in the human and heavenly planes. In the human plane there are newspapers, cinemas and the theaters, music and such. But in the asurakaya-bhumi there are no pleasant entertainment like those found in the worlds of the sugati-bhumi.
Since
the akusala-kamma are varied, the bhumi or the birth planes would vary
according to the causes or the individual akusala-kamma.
There are 7 bhumi which are the results of kamavacara-kusala, comprising 1 human and 6 heavenly bhumi.
The Tipitaka
explains the human bhumi: the manussa-bhumi where humans are born,
comprises 4 dipa (human planets, continents, islands, refuges) as follows:
1. Pubbavidehadipa to the east of Mount Sineru [the hill-shaped center of the galaxy?].
2. Amaragoyanadipa to the west of Mount Sineru.
3. Jambudipa to the south of Mount Sineru.
4. Uttarakurudipa to the north of Mount Sineru.
Those
of this world which is the Jambudipa would only see arammana of Jambudipa
no matter where they wander. They are unable to reach other dipa
which are the other three human worlds.
There are 6 heavenly bhumi in the following order:
Firstly
the Catummaharajika with four principal deva namely
Dhatarattha is the eminent deva of the east, also known as Inda, the ruler of gandhabba-deva.
Virulhaka is the eminent deva of the south, also known as Yama the ruler of kumbhanda-deva.
Virupakkha is the eminent deva of the west, also known as Varuna, the ruler of naga-deva.
Kuvera is the eminent deva of the north, also known as Vessavana, the ruler of yakkha-deva.
The
Catummaharajika is the closest heavenly level to the human plane.
Those heavenly bhumi are of increasingly higher levels, respectively to
the refinement of the heavens.
Secondly
the Tavatinsa, which is of a higher level than the Catummaharajika,
with Indra as ruling deva. We might have heard of the heavenly Tavatinsa
gardens of which there are four, namely: Nandana-vana in the east, Cittalata-vana
in the west, Missaka-vana in the north and Pharusaka-vana in the south.
Thirdly the Yama is higher than the Tavatinsa.Fourthly the Tusita is higher than the Yama.
Fifthly the Nimmanarati is higher than the Tusita.
Sixthly the Paranimmitavasavatti is higher than the Nimmanarati.
Where
does one wish to be born? While one is not yet an arahanta, one must
be reborn, but where? Probably not the brahma-bhumi because to be
born a brahma puggala in a brahma-bhumi must be the result of very steadfast
jhana-kusala as formerly mentioned. Therefore one would probably
be born in one kama-bhumi or another, either the apaya-bhumi or sugati-bhumi
according to the causes or the past kamma in the samsara-vatta.
There are 16 rupa-vacara-bhumi which are the birthplace of rupa-brahma- puggala namely
The 3 Pathama-jhana-bhumi [the first jhana plane] comprise
1 Parisajja-bhumi is the birth place of those who have attained the first jhana with a weaker type of kusala-citta.
2 Purohita-bhumi is the birth place of those who have attained the first jhana with an intermediate type of kusala-citta.
3 Mahabrahma-bhumi is the birth place of those who have attained the first jhana with kusala-citta of refined strength.
The Dutiya-jhana-bhumi [the second jhana plane] has 3 planes. The birthplace of those who have attained dutiya-jhana by catuttha-naya (the division of four) or tatiya-jhana by pancaka-naya (the division of five) comprises
1 Parittabha-bhumiThe Tatiya-jhana-bhumi [the third jhana plane] has 3 planes. The birthplace of those who have attained tatiya-jhana by catuttha-naya or catuttha -jhana by pancaka-naya comprises
2 Appamana-bhumi
3 Abhassara-bhumi
1 Parittasubha-bhumi
2 Appamanasubha-bhumi
3 Subhakinha-bhumi
The Catuttha-jhana-bhumi
[the fourth jhana plane] has 7 planes, comprising
1 Vehapphala-bhumi (the birthplace of those who have attained catuttha-jhana by catuttha-naya or pancama-jhana by pancaka-naya.)
2 Asannisatta-bhumi
(the
birthplace of those who have attained pancama-jhana, where no citta or
cetasika arises.)
3 Aviha-bhumi are the 5 suddhavasa bhumi, the birth
4 Atappa-bhumi places of the Anagami-puggala who had
5 Sudassa-bhumi _ attained catuttha-jhana by catuttha-naya
6 Sudassi-bhumi or pancama-jhana by pancaka-naya.
7 Akanittha-bhumi _
There
are 4 arupa-brahma-bhumi, the birthplaces of those who have attained
arupa-jhana (the pancama-jhana where rupa is eliminated and there are only
arupa as arammana) respectively
1 Akasanancayatana-bhumi
2 Vinnanancayatana-bhumi
3 Akincannayatana-bhumi
4 Nevasannanasannayatana-bhumi
In these
4 there are only nama-khandha or citta and cetasika, with no rupa arising
at all.
In the Anguttaranikaya Tikanipata Culanisutta the Buddha manifested the dhamma about the world and the universe, although not as much in detail as some might wish, but one can see his panna-parami, which is that of a lokavidu or one enlightened about the whole world.
The fourth characteristic of citta is every citta is called ‘citta’ because of its complex and intricate nature according to the efficiency of the sampayutta-dhamma (cetasika arising concurrently), which makes it possible to categorize citta into different kinds according to several perspectives. For example, into 4 jati comprising kusala, akusala, vipaka and kiriya; into 4 bhumi comprising kama-vacara-citta, rupa-vacara-citta, arupa-vacara-citta and lokuttara-citta.
There are all 4 jati of kama-vacara-citta being akusala, kusala, vipaka and kiriya. Other higher levels of citta do not have citta that are akusala. There are no rupa-vacara-citta that are akusala. Nor are there arupa-vacara-citta. There are no lokuttara-citta that are akusala (nor kiriya-citta).
Therefore there are 3 jati of rupa-vacara-citta, kusala, vipaka and kiriya. The rupa-vacara-citta is cause for rupa-vacara-vipaka-citta to perform patisandhi-kicca as brahma-puggala in one of the 15 rupa-brahma worlds. The rupa-vacara- pancama-jhana is paccaya for the patisandhi of rupa as Asannisatta-brahma-puggala in the Asannisatta-brahma-bhumi. The rupa-vacara-kiriya is the kiriya-citta of the arahanta while there is rupa-jhana-citta of different levels.
There are also 3 jati of the arupa-vacara-citta, kusala, vipaka and kiriya because of the same reason.
Rupa-vacara-citta and arupa-vacara-citta are mahagghata-citta. In the Atthasalini Cittuppadakandha there is an explanation of the term 'mahagghata' as follows. Called 'mahagghata' because it has attained eminence in its ability to dominate kilesa and because of its comprehensive results.
Kilesa is not an easy thing to dominate because when we see we take pleasure or are displeased. But when there is appana-samadhi, the citta is a jhana-citta established steadfastly in the arammana through the mind-door. There is no seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact. While there is jhana-citta over any period of time, the bhavanga-citta does not arise in between at all unlike when there is kama-vacara-citta, which are very few and short, being paritta-dhamma. The moments of seeing are short as hearing, thinking etc. At the level of kama-vacara-citta one knows arammana during very short processes. As soon as cakkhu-dvara-vithi-citta arises to know ruparammana, or that which appears through the eyes and then falls away immediately, bhavanga-citta follows before mano-dvara-vithi-citta could receive and perceive that which appears through the eyes in sequence to the cakkhu-dvara-vithi-citta. Kama-vacara-dhamma, or sight, sound, smell, taste, bodysense contact and the citta that knows them are only paritta-dhamma. But the mahagghata-citta, namely the rupa-vacara-citta and arupa-vacara-citta have attained eminence because they are able to repress kilesa and are therefore mahagghata-citta.
When there is appana-samadhi, or jhana-citta, arising and falling in sequence, then there is no seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue or bodysense, nor is there thinking about sight, sound, smell, taste, bodysense contact of any kind, it is called repressing kilesa. But when the jhana-citta ends, the kama-vacara-citta arises in continuation. When the vithi-citta arise through different dvara, akusala-javana-vithi can also arise when there is no kusala. Because kilesa has not been eradicated completely, after seeing akusala-citta would arise, after hearing akusala-citta would arise, after experiencing bodysense contact akusala-citta would arise. Does anyone realize that akusala-citta arises all the time? If no one does, none would repress it, and would not develop ways of eradicating kilesa.
Before the enlightenment
of the Sammasambuddha the Arahanta those who saw the harm of akusala-citta
that arise in continuation after seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, knowing
bodysense contact had tried to find ways to repressing kilesa. They
knew that the only way to do so is not to see, hear, smell, taste, know
bodysense contact because if they did they could not block kilesa.
Knowing that they developed kusala-citta that rendered them peaceful from
lobha, dosa, moha up to the level of appana-samadhi, which does not see,
hear, smell, taste, know bodysense contact of any kind other than the uniquely
mental arammana that makes the citta absolutely steadfast with peaceful
kusala. Appana-samadhi, which is a jhana-citta, is not the way to
eradicate kilesa because when jhana-citta does not arise, kilesa does.
The moments of rupa-vacara-citta and arupa-vacara-citta are great realities,
being mahagghata, because they can repress kilesa by not seeing, hearing,
smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact. Unlike the anagami-puggala
who still saw but had eradicated pleasure in sight, heard but had eradicated
pleasure in sound, smelt but had eradicated pleasure in smell, tasted
but had eradicated
pleasure in taste, knew but had eradicated pleasure in cold and heat, softness
and hardness, tension and motion that appeared. Therefore citta are
categorized into 4 bhumi or 4 levels.
Rupa-vacara-citta and arupa-vacara-citta are of 3 jati, comprising kusala, vipaka and kiriya.
There are 2 jati of lokuttara-cittta, namely lokuttara-kusala and lokuttara-vipaka. There are no lokuttara-kiriya-citta. There are 8 lokuttara-citta as follows.
Sotapatti-magga-citta is lokuttara-kusala.Lokuttara-kusala-citta is paccaya for lokuttara-vipaka-citta to arise in consequence immediately with no other citta in between. All other kusala cannot bring immediate results, that is they cannot make vipaka-citta arise right after the kusala-citta but the lokuttara-kusala is paccaya for lokuttara-vipaka-citta to arise in continuation immediately with no other citta in between, the lokuttara-kusala-citta as the cause and lokuttara-vipaka-citta as the result. As soon as the sotapatti-magga-citta, which is the lokuttara-kusala, falls away, the sotapatti-phala-citta, which is the lokuttara-vipaka, would arise sequentially immediately. As soon as the Sakadagami-magga-citta, which is the lokuttara-kusala, falls away, the Sakadagami-phala-citta, which is the lokuttara-vipaka, would arise sequentially immediately. As soon as the Anagami-magga-citta, which is the lokuttara-kusala, falls away, the Anagami-phala-citta, which is the lokuttara-vipaka, would arise sequentially immediately. As soon as the Arahatta-magga-citta, which is the lokuttara-kusala, falls away, the Arahatta-phala-citta, which is the lokuttara-vipaka, would arise sequentially immediately.
Sotapatti-phala-citta is lokuttara-vipaka.Sakadagami-magga-citta is lokuttara-kusala.
Sakadagami-phala-citta is lokuttara-vipaka.Anagami-magga-citta is lokuttara-kusala.
Anagami-phala-citta is lokuttara-vipaka.Arahatta-magga-citta is lokuttara-kusala.
Arahatta-phala-citta is lokuttara-vipaka.
Therefore
the 4 lokuttara-vipaka-citta do not perform patisandhi-kicca, bhavanga-kicca
and cuti-kicca unlike lokiya-kusala-vipaka and akusala-vipaka. When
lokuttara-kusala-citta falls away, the lokuttara-vipaka-citta would arise
with nibbana as arammana immediately following the lokuttara-kusala.
Therefore phala-citta, which is a lokuttara-vipaka-citta, is javana-vithi
like the lokuttara-kusala-citta. Phala-citta is the only kind of vipaka-citta
that is javana-vithi-citta performing the javana-kicca with nibbana as
arammana. The lokuttara-kusala-citta arises only once in a samsara-vatta,
eradicating kilesa completely according to the level of the respective
lokuttara-kusala-citta. But the lokuttara-vipaka-citta that
arises
in sequence after the lokuttara-kusala-citta arises with nibbana as arammana
in a series of two or three citta depending on the type of the puggala.
The sotapanna-puggala would be born again no more than seven lifetimes but the patisandhi-citta of the sotapanna is not a sotapatti-phala-citta. Depending on where the sotapanna-puggala is born, the vipaka-citta of the level of the bhumi would perform the patisandhi-kicca in that world. If the sotapanna-puggala is born in heaven, the kama-vacara-citta would perform the patisandhi-kicca. If the sotapanna-puggala is born in a brahma-bhumi, either the rupa-vacara-vipaka-citta or the arupa-vacara-vipaka-citta would perform the patisandhi-kicca in that world accordingly.
Therefore the word ' bhumi' has 2 meanings: 1 the level of the citta and 2 the world or plane where the entity is born.
There are 4 bhumi levels of the citta, namely
1. kamavacara-cittaThe bhumi where an entity is born means the 'okasa-loka', which is the birthplace of worldly creatures, comprising 31 bhumi according to the levels of the citta. There are
2. rupa-vacara-citta
3. arupa-vacara-citta
4. lokuttara-citta
1. The 11 kama-bhumi,
2. The 16 rupa-brahma-bhumi
3. The 4 arupa-brahma-bhumi.
1. How
are kilesa-kama and vatthu-kama different?
2. What
is paritta-dhamma?
3. Does
the Buddha have kama-vacara-citta?
4. What
does the word 'bhumi' mean?
5. What
bhumi is the suddhavasa-bhumi? Who could be born in the suddhavasa-bhumi?
6. How
many jati are the rupa-vacara-citta? The arupa-vacara-citta?
7. How
many jati are the lokuttara-citta?
8. What
kinds of citta are the mahagghata-citta?
9. What
vithi-citta is the lokuttara-citta?
10. What is
the function of lokuttara-vipaka-citta?
Chapter 10
Citta differ by their sampayutta-dhamma, or the cetasika that arise concurrently with them, therefore they are also categorized according to their vedanabheda or the kinds of vedana-cetasika that arise with them, as follows:
Somanassasahagatam The citta arises with somanassa-vedana-cetasika (gladness).
Domanassasahagatam The citta arises with domanassa-vedana-cetasika (sorrow)
Upekkhasahagatam The citta arises with upekkha-vedana-cetasika
(indifference).
Sukhasahagatam The citta arises with sukha-vedana-cetasika (pleasant bodysense feeling)
Dukkhasahagatam The citta arises with dukkha-vedana-cetasika (unpleasant bodysense feeling)
Each time
a citta arises there must be vedana-cetasika arising concurrently.
Therefore vedana-cetasika of one kind or another would arise with a citta
and while the citta is chief and dominant in realizing fully the different
characteristics of arammana, the vedana-cetasika is the reality that feels
glad or sad, happy or unhappy, or indifferent while knowing arammana.
Since citta are differentiated by jati as kusala, akusala, vipaka and kiriya, the cetasika that arise concurrently would be of the same jati as that citta. Akusala-cetasika could not arise with kusala-citta, vipaka-citta or kiriya-citta. Kusala-cetasika could not arise with akusala-citta, vipaka-citta or kiriya-citta. Nor could vipaka-cetasika arise with akusala-citta, kusala-citta or kiriya-citta. Therefore vedana-cetasika are also distinguished by being kusala, akusala, vipaka and kiriya like all other cetasika. However, the Buddha did not manifest the characteristics of each reality in detail so there could be those who misunderstand the characteristics of vedana-cetasika such as physical dukkha-vedana, which are feelings of sickness, aches and pains, which arise with the kaya-vinnana-citta, the citta that knows bodysense contact, that arises just an instant of citta, unlike the feeling of domanassa (unpleasantness) when in contact with the physically unpleasant arammana. Since each instant of citta differs in detail by the vedana-cetasika arising with it, the Buddha manifested precisely which vedana arises concurrently with a distinct kind of akusala-citta, kusala-citta, vipaka-citta and kiriya-citta.
The instant there is pain there is dukkha-vedana through the bodysense which is akusala-vipaka, while the instant there is unhappiness, perturbation, and worry because of dukkha-vedana, there is no vipaka. At that instant there is akusala-vedana arising with akusala-citta so there is unhappiness.
The conscientious study of the Abhidhamma would make us correctly understand the characteristics of vedana-cetasika that arise with the citta, or else one would be deceptively attached to somanassa-vedana, sukha-vedana or upekkha-vedana without recognizing which instant of vedana is kusala, which akusala, which vipaka or which is kiriya.
In the Anguttaranikaya Ekanipata Dutiyapannasaka Sanimitta the third vagga, 328, there is a passage saying: Behold, Bhikkhu, dhamma that is sinful akusala arises because there is vedana. Without vedana, it does not arise. By abandoning the vedana the dhamma that is sinful akusala would no longer be.
(Other passages are about sanna-cetasika, which is the sanna-khandha, other cetasika that are sankhara-khandha and the citta which are vinnana-khandha.)
This shows that the vedana-cetasika, which are feelings, are the basis of tenacious attachments. Since there is no knowledge of the truth about vedana-cetasika, one cannot abandon the feeling that there is oneself.
The knowledge of the characteristics of vedana-cetasika would condition and support sati to arise and know the characteristics of vedana. Otherwise one would not realize that every day there is vedana in the same way that each day there are only realities that appear through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind, only because citta arise to know these realities. But imagine if one does not feel anything, when one sees the world there would be no perturbation. If one does not feel any emotion after hearing, one would not feel disturbed either. And the same applies to smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact, there would be no akusala of any kind. But because feelings arise, there is attachment and clinging to the feelings and desiring the objects that make us feel glad and happy, which cause akusala-dhamma to arise frequently without our awareness. All dhamma are anatta and none can prevent vedana-cetasika from arising. Whenever citta arises there must be vedana-cetasika that feels the arammana of the moment. Even now there must be vedana-cetasika of one kind or another being upekkha-vedana, sukha-vedana, dukkha-vedana, somanassa-vedana or domanassa-vedana. The aim of studying dhamma is not merely to know the number or names but the characteristics of the feelings one is having. If sati does not arise to be conscious of the feelings that we are having now, even though that feeling is real: it has arisen and fallen away, since we do not know the true characteristics of that feeling, we would take it for the selves, which are happy, unhappy, glad, sad or indifferent.
Therefore as long as sati does not arise to be mindful of the characteristics of feelings or emotions, there is no way to abandon attachment to realities as entities, persons, or the selves, because each would cling to feelings as important factors of life. Everyone desires pleasant emotions. No one wants unhappy feelings. Therefore no matter how, one would endeavor to make sukha-vedana or somanassa-vedana arise without realizing that in that instant there is attachment clinging to feelings that arise because of causes and then fall away. Since feelings are important things to which all are attached, the Buddha manifested that the vedana-cetasika alone is the vedana-khandha because it is an important reality that is taken for the self, the entity, the person. For the sati to arise and be conscious of the characteristics of the truly existing realities that appear, one must rely on studying and listening to more and more detailed accounts about realities, examine and prove them in daily life also.
There are 4 jati of vedana-cetasika comprising 1) vedana that is kusala, 2) vedana that is akusala, 3) vedana that is vipaka and 4) vedana that is kiriya. Vedana is a sankhata-dhamma, arising from causes and conditions that compose it. Vedana that is vipaka arises from kamma as paccaya. Vedana that are kusala, akusala or kiriya are not vipaka. Therefore they do not arise from kamma as paccaya, but from other conditions. From the perspective of the five vedana, the sukha-vedana, as well as the dukkha-vedana through the bodysense, are of the vipaka-jati, arising as result of kamma. The vipaka-vedana-cetasika arises from past kamma as paccaya, to know arammana that is in contact with the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind according to the kind of the distinct vipaka.
When seeing,
the cakkhu-vinnana is a vipaka-citta arising concurrently with upekkha-vedana,
which is a vipaka-cetasika, and other vipaka-cetasika. The sota-vinnana,
the ghana-vinnana, the jivha-vinnana are of the same nature. But
the kaya-vinnana-akusala-vipaka, which clearly knows the characteristics
of the photthabbarammana that is in contact with the body, arises concurrently
with dukkha-vedana and the kaya-vinnana-kusala-vipaka arises concurrently
with
sukha-vedana.
No one can change the vedana that arise with distinct kinds of citta. Kaya-vinnana
arises because of kamma as paccaya: when kayappasada-rupa comes into contact
with a mahabhuta-rupa (cold, heat, softness, hardness, tension or motion)
that is ittharammana, sukha-vedana would arise. When kayappasada-rupa
is in contact with a mahabhuta-rupa that is anittharammana, dukkha-vedana
would arise. The feeling that arises at the bodysense is only either
dukkha-vedana or sukha-vedana. It cannot be upekkha-vedana, somanassa-vedana
or domanassa-vedana at all. One must separate bodily and mental feelings.
While there is kaya-vinnana, sukha-vedana or dukkha-vedana are of vipaka-jati,
or the result of past kamma. But the moments of trouble, worry and
anxiety are the feelings of unhappiness, they are not the result of past
kamma but that of accumulations of akusala-dhamma, which cause unhappy,
unpleasant feelings to arise.
Other than dukkha-vedana and sukha-vedana which are only of vipaka-jati, and domanassa-vedana which is of uniquely akusala-jati, other vedana, somanassa-vedana and upekkha-vedana, can be of other jati: kusala, akusala, vipaka or kiriya. This is the difference which shows that realities would arise according to conditions.
Has one ever been mindful of vedana? At this instant vedana is arising and falling away. Some might have begun to be mindful and know the characteristics of realities that are appearing through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and bodysense. Others might begin to be aware of the characteristics of nama-dhamma which is a consciousness, while seeing, smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense and thinking. But that is not enough because sati must be mindful of the characteristics of realities that are appearing through all five khandha, namely rupa-, vedana-, sanna-, sankhara- and vinnana-khandha. Since sati is not really conscious of the characteristics of realities, it cannot eradicate kilesa because kilesa is not something which can be eradicated by ignorance, or without sati or real and complete comprehension and consciousness of the characteristics of the realities appearing.
Is there vedana-cetasika while we sleep? It is very beneficial to think about and examine dhamma because the more one does so, the more clearly one would understand. Thus one should consider whether there is feeling while one is asleep. While one is fast asleep, one does not know arammana of this world no matter through eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense or mind. One does not think nor dream. While one is not dead, one must have bhavanga-citta that arises and falls away to maintain that lifetime of that person until one awakens and continues to see the world till the time one sleeps again. While fast asleep one does not know anything of this world, no matter through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense or mind that one used to see, hear, like and think of. While fast asleep there is no arammana appearing but the citta still continue to arise and fall away, the four nama-khandha, or the citta and cetasika, must arise concurrently inseparably. While deeply sleeping, there is vipaka-citta, the result of past kamma, which is why a sleeping person is not yet dead since vipaka-citta arise and fall away in continuation. Whenever citta arises there must always be cetasika concurrently arising. Vedana-cetasika arises with all citta. The vedana-cetasika that arises with the bhavanga-citta is a vipaka-cetasika that feels the same arammana as the bhavanga-citta, that is the arammana not of this world. Thus one is not conscious as one is when the citta is seeing through the eyes or hearing through the ears, for example. None could know the characteristics of the vedana-cetasika that arises while is fast asleep. But when one is awake one should consider what is awake as when one is asleep, one should ponder what is asleep. Rupa is not a consciousness, therefore it does not awaken or sleep. But nama-dhamma is a consciousness. When it does not know arammana that appears in this world, it is said to sleep. But the citta continue to arise and fall away, maintaining this lifetime so that one is not yet dead.
The instant of wakefulness, what is awake? Citta and cetasika are awake by arising to know arammana through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind. Whenever one knows arammana of this world, one is awake yet one should examine things more conscientiously for the purpose of developing sati-patthana. The purpose of manifesting the dhamma is to assist sati to be mindful of the characteristics of the realities appearing and the viriyarambhakatha or words that are beneficial to the arising of viriya to be mindful of characteristics of realities that appear. Therefore one should examine whether while awake citta and cetasika arise to know arammana of this world the way we understand it to. One should think even more profoundly: what is awake? Citta and cetasika arise and awake together. Vipaka-citta inevitably arise to experience that which appear through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue or bodysense. Vipaka-citta is the result of kamma. It arises and falls away. Can one stay asleep forever? That is not possible. Kamma does not cause one to be born in this lifetime to sleep until death. But kamma are conditions for one's eyes, ears, nose, tongue and bodysense to be paccaya for citta to arise and see pleasant things as the results of kusala-kamma, unpleasant things as results of akusala-kamma; hear pleasant things as the results of kusala-kamma, unpleasant ones as results of akusala-kamma etc.
Vipaka-citta and cetasika therefore arise to know arammana through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind in daily life. What else is there other than this? When one is awake, other than vipaka-citta arising to see, hear, smell, taste, know bodysense contact, the akusala-kamma or kilesa begin to awaken because while sleeping there is still anusaya-kilesa or kilesa that has not been eradicated which has been accumulated in all bhavanga-citta that arise and fall away. While one is asleep, kilesa does not arise to perform the function of feeling emotions because there is not yet seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact of any kind of this world. While fast asleep, all kilesa are asleep also. But when awakened, so are the kilesa: after seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact, the kilesa would arise concurrently with akusala-citta in accordance with the causes and conditions that make akusala- dhamma of a certain kind arise. Is that good?
Since citta are categorized into 4 bhumi, namely kamavacara-bhumi, rupavacara-bhumi, arupavacara-bhumi and lokuttara-bhumi. The citta would be finer respectively of the levels. But most people's citta are of the kamavacara-bhumi, evolving in sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact. Kamavacara-bhumi is the lowest level of citta that is, when one wakes up one would see, hear, alternately from one sense-door to the other through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind. Each day the citta that arise are not only of the lower bhumi but also of a lower jati: they are akusala-citta that awake each day when the kusala-citta does not arise. When one sees, one is pleased, attached. When one hears, one is content and attached to the sound heard normally because in general lobha-mula-citta arises more often than dosa-mula-citta, which is a coarse, unpleasant characteristic of citta.
One might
admit that daily there are more akusala-citta arising than kusala-citta.
If one does not realize that one could not develop kusala to escape the
bad aspect of citta and remain full of akusala-citta as always and even
be pleased with akusala without seeing the harm in it. One should
then realize that when one wakes up generally kilesa awaken through the
eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind depending upon how troublesome
a person's kilesa are and how much mental or physical disturbance and unease
they can cause. Realizing one should increasingly endeavor to develop
kusala. Whether dana, sila, peace of the citta or any level of sati-patthana
that is mindful of realities appearing. Not that anyone can abandon
lobha and then develop panna to become the sotapanna afterwards.
Though lobha arises, it is a reality that arises because of condition and
not an entity, a person or the self. Panna must be mindful of the
characteristics of lobha as it really is: a reality that arises and falls
away.
The 5 vedana arise with the following citta:
1. A sukha-vedana arises with kaya-vinnana-kusala-vipaka-citta.
2. A dukkha-vedana arises with kaya-vinnana-akusala-vipaka-citta.
3. Two domanassa-vedana arise with dosa-mula-citta
4. A somanassa-vedana and an upekkha-vedana arise with citta that are either kusala, akusala, vipaka or kiriya.
Domanassa-vedana
cannot arise with citta that are kusala, vipaka or kiriya. It can
only arise with those that are akusala or only the 2 dosa-mula-citta.
If one does not know this, one might mistake akusala as kusala. For
example, when one pities people who are in trouble and wishes to help them
to escape their misfortune, the instant of citta when karuna arises is
kusala-citta arising concurrently with karuna-cetasika. One should
know whether there is any unpleasant feeling in the characteristics of
vedana. If there is domanassa or sorrow and unpleasant feeling, then
it is akusala-citta and not the same instant as citta arising concurrently
with karuna-cetasika. With this knowledge one would
attenuate the feeling of sorrow, domanassa and unpleasantness, which is akusala and be able to help others to escape their misfortune with pleasure, not with domanassa or sorrow. Therefore one must know which instant is akusala to relinquish it. Generally one misunderstands that when one pities a person in trouble one should also feel sorrow and suffering in sympathy with that person. At that moment if one is asked what one feels, some might say neutral, some glad others uneasy. Even while sati is being mindful directly of the characteristics of the feeling, it is still difficult to really know the truth that the feeling is only a consciousness, a kind of nama-dhamma that arises with every citta.
When sound appears, sota-vinnana-citta is the consciousness that hears the sound, at that instant there is vedana-cetasika that feels, arising simultaneously with the sota-vinnana-citta. When phassa-cetasika arises in contact with the arammana nothing can prevent vedana-cetasika from arising. When sati is able to begin to be mindful of the characteristics of the citta or the vedana-cetasika, it would become accumulating and beneficial paccaya so that one would not forget [to be mindful]. Therefore when one feels indifferent, glad, happy, sorrow or regret, instead of increasing the feeling, the sati would be mindful that the instant is only a feeling that arises because of causes and conditions. Therefore sati-patthana is beneficent in the attenuation and abandonment of sufferings in moments of unpleasantness.
QUESTIONS
1. What jati
are upekkha-vedana and somanassa-vedana?
2. What jati
are dukkha-vedana and sukha-vedana?
3. What jati
is domanassa-vedana?
4. What jati
is vedana-cetasika when one is sound asleep?
5. Can
the rupa waken or sleep? Why?
Chapter 11
Sampayutta-dhamma are cetasika that differentiate citta into 2 kinds as sampayutta and vippayutta.
The term sampayutta-dhamma in general means the cetasika which is a reality that arises with the citta. But citta as differentiated by sampayutta and vippayutta comprise 5 kinds: 4 are akusala-sampayutta and 1 is sobhana-sampayutta.
The 4 akusala-sampayutta are:
Ditthigata-sampayutta The citta arises concurrently with ditthi-cetasika or misunderstanding.
Patigha-sampayutta The citta arises concurrently with dosa-cetasika [aversion or ill-will, anger].
Vicikiccha-sampayutta The citta arises concurrently with vicikiccha-cetasika, doubt or uncertainty about realities.
Uddhacca-sampayutta The citta arises concurrently with uddhacca-cetasika, reality that is not calm or peaceful.
The only
sobhana-sampayutta is:
Nana-sampayutta The citta arises concurrently with panna-cetasika.
The
12 akusala-citta as categorized by sampayutta are
8 lobha-mula-citta 4 arise with ditthi-cetasika or misunderstanding as ditthigata-sampayutta.
4 do not arise with misunderstanding as ditthigata-vippayutta.
2 dosa-mula-citta Both are patigha-sampayutta or arise with dosa-cetasika, which is a reality that is coarse and harsh.
2 moha-mula-citta One arises with vicikiccha-cetasika as vicikiccha-sampayutta.
The other arises with uddhacca-cetasika as uddhacca- sampayutta.
Altogether
there are 12 akusala-citta, of which 8 are sampayutta and 4 are vippayutta.
Lobha-mula-citta-ditthigata-sampayutta (and ditthigata-vippayutta) are differentiated into 4 kinds, comprising 2 that arise with somanassa-vedana and 2 arising with upekkha-vedana.
Lobha-mula-citta that arise concurrently with somanassa-vedana (and upekkha-vedana) are differentiated into 4 kinds, 2 are asankharika arising without inducement and 2 sasankharika arising from inducement.
The 8 Lobha-mula-citta are
Somanassa-sahagatam ditthigata-sampayuttam asankharikam
Somanassa-sahagatam ditthigata-sampayuttam sasankharikam
Somanassa-sahagatam ditthigata-vippayuttam asankharikam
Somanassa-sahagatam ditthigata-vippayuttam sasankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam ditthigata-sampayuttam asankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam ditthigata-sampayuttam sasankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam ditthigata-vippayuttam asankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam ditthigata-vippayuttam sasankharikam
The
2 dosa-mula-citta arise with patigha or dosa-cetasika. Therefore
they are both patigha-sampayutta. For when domanassa-vedana arises
there must always be dosa-cetasika, which is a coarse, harmful reality
arising concurrently. Unlike somanassa-vedana and upekkha-vedana
which can arise with lobha-mula-citta, kusala-citta, vipaka-citta or kiriya-citta.
Thus when the 2 lobha-mula-citta arise with domanassa-vedana, they must
both be patigha-sampayutta. The dosa-mula-citta differ into 2
kinds also because one is asankharika, or arises spontaneously
without inducement, and the other is sasankharika, or dependent
on inducement. Therefore the 2 dosa-mula-citta are
Domanassa-sahagatam patigha-sampayuttam asankharikam
Domanassa-sahagatam patigha-sampayuttam sasankharikam
Moha-mula-citta
differentiate into 2 kinds: one as vicikiccha-sampayutta, arising with
vicikiccha-cetasika, which doubts in the Buddha, the dhamma and the sangha,
the khandha, the dhatu, the past, the present and the future etc.
The other is uddhacca-sampayutta.
Moha-cetasika is one that does not know realities as they really are. Even when faced with arammana it cannot know the real characteristics of the arammana appearing. For example, when seeing, it does not know that the visible object is a reality, therefore it wonders how the characteristics of realities that only appear through the eyes differ from what one takes for people or objects. When there is doubt there is moha-mula-citta-vicikiccha-sampayutta. But doubt does not occur all the time. Whenever there is doubt in the Buddha, the dhamma, the sangha and in the characteristics of realities appearing, there is moha-mula-citta concurrent with vicikiccha-cetasika.
Normally, when we see, hear, smell, taste, know bodysense contact, if the next citta to arise is not kusala-citta or other akusala-citta, it would be moha-mula-citta-uddhacca-sampayutta because at that instant there is no doubt arising concurrently neither is there lobha-cetasika nor dosa-cetasika. Therefore one can know the characteristics of moha-mula-citta-uddhacca-sampayutta in the moment that one is not mindful, when one is ignorant of the characteristics of the arammana appearing and when akusala-citta does not arise with lobha-cetasika, dosa-cetasika or vicikiccha-cetasika, the akusala-citta is moha-mula-citta-uddhacca-sampayutta. Therefore there are 2 moha-mula-citta:
1. Upekkha-sahagatam vicikiccha-sampayuttam
2. Upekkha-sahagatam uddhacca-sampayuttam
Altogether
there are 12 akusala-citta of which 8 are sampayutta and 4 vippayutta.
As to the sobhana-sampayutta or nana-sampayutta, they are any citta arising concurrently with panna-cetasika.
QUESTIONS
1. How
many kinds of citta does dosa-cetasika arise with?
2. Which
vedana does the ditthi-cetasika arise with?
3. Which
vedana does the dosa-cetasika arise with?
4. Which
akusala-citta does the somanassa-vedana arise with?
5. Which
kusala-citta does the upekkha-vedana arise with?
Chapter 12
Citta are differentiated by the kinds of sankhara as asankharika and sasankharika.
The word sankhara in the Tipitaka has several meanings comprising
1 sankhara-dhamma.
2 sankhara-khandha.
3 abhisankhara.
4 asankharika and sasankharika.
Sankhara-dhamma
is the reality that arises because of paccaya or conditions composing it.
When it arises it falls away. Sankhara-dhamma are not permanent.
They arise only the shortest instant and then fall away completely.
Sankhara-dhamma are namely citta, cetasika and rupa.
The 4
paramattha-dhamma are citta, cetasika, rupa and nibbana, the first
three of which are sankhara-dhamma arising from the composition of
paccaya to exist and then fall away after a very short instant. There
are no conditions for nibbana, therefore it is the reality that does not
arise or fall away, it is visankhara-dhamma.
The 3 sankhara-dhamma
or citta, cetasika and rupa are categorized as the five-khandha, as follows
1. All rupa are rupa-khandha.
2. The vedana-cetasika is vedana-khandha.
3. The sanna-cetasika is sanna-khandha.
4. The 50 remaining cetasika are sankhara-khandha.
5. All citta are vinnana-khandha.
Therefore
sankhara-khandha
are the 50 cetasika excluding vedana-cetasika and sanna-cetasika. Sankhara-dhamma
comprises all the 89 citta, all the 52 cetasika and all the 28 rupa.
The meaning of sankhara-dhamma is more comprehensive than sankhara-khandha because citta, cetasika and rupa are all sankhara-dhamma while only the 50 cetasika are sankhara-khandha. And out of the 50 cetasika, which are sankhara-khandha, only cetana-cetasika is abhisankhara. In the paticcasamuppada, avijja is paccaya for sankhara, sankhara is paccaya for vinnana etc. Sankhara in the paticcasamuppada means cetana-cetasika, which is abhisankhara, the supreme composing reality, or kusala-kamma, or akusala-kamma which would result in vipaka-citta and -cetasika. Even though other cetasika also condition citta to arise such as phassa-cetasika. Without phassa-cetasika, which is a reality that comes into contact with arammana, there can be no citta that sees, hears, smells, tastes, knows bodysense contact or thinks. But phassa-cetasika is still not abhisankhara because it only comes into contact with arammana and then is gone.
Therefore of 50 sankhara-khandha only cetana-cetasika is abhisankhara, or reality that is supreme in conditioning or composing by being kusala-kamma or akusala-kamma as kamma-paccaya that results in vipaka-cetasika's arising.
There
are 3 sankhara in the paticcasamuppada:
1 punnabhisankhara,
2 apunnabhisankhara 3 anenjabhisankhara.
Punnabhisankhara
being cetana-cetasika that arises with kamavacara-kusala-citta and rupavacara-kusala-citta.
Apunnabhisankhara
being cetana-cetasika that arises with akusala-citta.
Anenjabhisankhara
being cetana-cetasika that arises with arupajhana-kusala-citta, which is
a steadfast, imperturbable kusala.
Kamavacara-kusala-citta
can only arise for short, little instants and easily disturbed because
they arise only in processes with series of 7 citta. Dana, the abstention
from dishonesty and other developments of kusala would arise only occasionally.
Other than that akusala-citta would arise in numerous processes. Rupavacara-kusala-citta
is kusala-nana-sampayutta composed of panna-cetasika, or cetasika that
is peaceful enough to attain the level of appana-samadhi with rupa as arammana.
It, therefore, is a mahagghata-citta that is close to kamavacara-
kusala
because it still has rupa as arammana. Anenjabhisankhara is an arupajhana
or the pancama-jhana with no rupa as arammana. That instant of citta
is steadfast because there is no rupa as arammana so that the result is
plenary which is to make arupajhana-vipaka-citta arise in the arupa-brahma-bhumi
where life is very long according to the power of the arupajhana-kusala.
To be born in heaven is happiness because there are no such diseases, hardships
or physical sufferings as there are in human and apaya-bhumi. But
life there is not as long as in the rupa-brahma-bhumi and that of the rupa-brahma-bhumi
is not as long as life in the arupa-brahma-bhumi because the arupa-brahma-bhumi
is the result of arupajhana-kusala, which is anenjabhisankhara.
Sankhara-dhamma comprises citta, cetasika and rupa.
Sankhara-khandha comprises the 50 cetasika excepting vedana-cetasika and sanna-cetasika.
Abhisankhara is the cetana-cetasika (one of the 50 sankhara-khandha).
Differentiation among citta according to the kinds of asankharika and sasankharika shows that the kusala-, akusala-, vipaka- or kiriya-citta that arise with cetana-cetasika also differ into 2 kinds. Some are asankharika and others sasankharika. In the Atthasalini Cittuppadakandha there is a passage explaining: called sasankhara because it evolves with sankhara (inducements). Sankhara in this context means self-induced or induced by others, or ordered to perform. This is the characteristics of citta in everyday life, whether it were kusala or akusala, it would arise by itself with the strong paccaya of past accumulations without inducements of any kind. This conditioned citta which arises without inducement is asankharika, or does not rely on inducements. Sometimes, however, whether it were kusala or akusala, it would arise weakly, only able to arise by relying on inducement from itself or from other people. The kusala or akusala of little strength, which relies on inducement to arise, is sasankharika-citta.
This shows that even kusala or akusala are differentiated by the strength accumulated in itself as paccaya to arise and sometimes by the weakness and dependence on inducement of itself or from others to arise.
Akusala-citta sometimes arises immediately according to accumulations, to be pleased or not with the arammana at the time. Sometimes it is not so. For example, one does not want to go to the cinema or plays but when friends and relatives ask one to, one does. Does that instant of citta want to go? Just as soon go as not. But since someone asks, one goes. By oneself one would not. Or sometimes one thinks that the movie might be entertaining so one would like to see it but one does not go because the desire is not strong enough to go right away. In real daily life one can see which instant the citta is strong and when weak whether of the akusala-type, that is lobha and dosa, or of the kusala-type. Some people when they heard of robe-offering ceremonies, they wish to join immediately as well as ask others to join in. Others, even though they are asked, could not join if this or that person won't. Therefore aspects of kusala-citta and akusala-citta differ according to paccaya, or causes, that condition the arising and evolving of the instant, even though the cetasika that compose the citta are of equal numbers.
The Buddha
manifested the asankharika and sasankharika so that we may see the minute
details of citta: though citta may have the same number of cetasika in
its composition, without variation, the aspects of citta differ into asankharika
and sasankharika according to the strength of the cetasika arising with
it. To demonstrate the great beneficent karuna of the Buddha, who
has the great kindness in manifesting the dhamma minutely, the Atthasalini
Atthakatha Dhammasangipagana Cittuppadakandha explains "ananta" or the
4 greatest expanses [infinity] as follows:
These
are considered the 4 "ananta", being 1 akasa (space) is ananta, infinite;
2 the universe is ananta, infinite; 3 the sattanikaya (species of animals
and entities) is ananta, infinite; 4 the Buddha-nana (the Buddha's omniscience)
is ananta, infinite.
Truly it is not possible to calculate akasa to the north, south, east or west to be so many hundred or thousand yojana. (...) If one were to use an iron hammer as big as the sineru mountain to pound the earth in two and then toss the iron hammer in the space between, it would truly fall below. There would be nothing to restrain it. Called ananta, the akasa is infinite, thus.
To calculate the universe as so many hundred, thousand or hundred thousand in number is impossible. Truly, if the four great Brahma born in the Akanittha-plane (the rupa-brahma-bhumi of the fifth level of the Sudhavasa, which is the highest level) who are so swift that they could pass ten thousand universes in the time it take an arrow of an archer of great strength to pass the shadow of the sugar-palm crosswise, were to run with such speed, thinking we shall see the edges of the universe, these great Brahma are certain to attain parinibbana before ever having done so. All the universes are thus called ananta, infinite.
To calculate the number of aquatic and land animals in the universe is impossible. Sattanikaya is thus called ananta (infinite).
The Buddha-nana is said to be more ananta than all the three ananta above together.
Akasa we can see is endless. None can measure how many hundred, thousand or hundred thousand yojana it is. Nor can one measure the universe, who wants to count stars, universes? One can never succeed because the universe is ananta, infinite. Even sattanikaya, or all the life forms of the universe, cannot be counted or made into statistics, humans, deva, Brahma, land animals, aquatic animals, animals in apaya. Still the Buddha-nana is said to be more ananta than all three: the innumerable beings, the boundless universe and the immeasurable space.
(Considering the incalculably infinite number of entities in the universe, the citta of these entities must be very intricately different indeed.)
The kusala-citta that is kamavacara somanassasahagata (arising with somanassa-vedana) nana-sampayutta and asankharika (arising spontaneously, without inducement) would arise in each entity in great numbers, since there are great numbers of entities, citta would proportionately arise in greater numbers.
There is not one unique kusala-citta. Even the kusala-citta of the kamavacara-kusala kind arising with panna or, as nana-sampayutta, and asankharika, or with great strength, is not only of one kind. Citta must vary according to the numbers of entities, which each has citta that arise one at a time. Though the citta arise as numerously as the number of entities, but all kusala-citta are of the same type: by definition they are kamavacara, somanassasahagata, nana-sampayutta and with the common status of asankharika.
The Sammasambuddha can determine the kamavacara-kusala-citta that arise with all the entities of incalculable numbers in all the universes of incalculable extent with his omniscience as if he weighed them on a great scale and measured them in bushels. Then he arranged them into 8 parts and manifested that these citta (kamavacara-kusala-citta) are of 8 kinds, with the explanation of which the pundits could only agree (they could not deny it).
This shows
that as numerable as kamavacara-kusala-citta may be the
Buddha
could count and organize kamavacara-kusala into 8 kinds of mahakusala which
no one can deny through the differences in the upekkha- or somanassa-vedana
in the arising of panna or the absence thereof and in being asankharika
or sasankharika.
Therefore the 8 kamavacara-kusala-citta or mahakusala-citta are:
Somanassa-sahagatam nana-sampayuttam asankharikam
Somanassa-sahagatam nana-sampayuttam sasankharikam
Somanassa-sahagatam nana-vippayuttam asankharikam
Somanassa-sahagatam nana-vippayuttam sasankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam nana-sampayuttam asankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam nana-sampayuttam sasankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam nana-vippayuttam asankharikam
Upekkha-sahagatam nana-vippayuttam sasankharikam
Have you
ever been sleepy, tired or bored? Sometimes the citta have the idea
of doing some kusala or other, but then grow weak or sleepy. Would
sati be aware of the characteristics of that instant of citta. If
not, then it becomes the self, with real sleepiness, discouragement, disheartenment
and boredom. Weariness is real and if sati were not mindful of the
characteristics of these realities as they truly are, there can be no knowledge
of that reality as not an entity, a person or the self but only the characteristic
of the citta that arises from conditions and causes and then falls away.
The Buddha manifested different kinds of citta, for example, asankharika
and sasankharika: there are lobha-mula-citta that are asankharika while
others are sasankharika; there are dosha-mula-citta that are asankharika
and sasankharika; likewise kusala-citta. Whenever sati is mindful
of the characteristics of these realities, there can be knowledge that
they are nama-dhamma and not rupa-dhamma.
Discouragement, disheartenment are not rupa but realities of citta that are sasankharika because they are citta that are not strong.
Only the kamavacara-citta differ into asankharika and sasankharika because the kamavacara-citta is the citta of the lowest bhumi, the citta of the kind that arises commonly in daily life at every instant of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, knowing bodysense contact and thinking about sight, sound, smell, taste and bodysense contact. Sometimes they are strong, others weak according to causes and conditions. But citta of higher levels, such as the rupavacara-citta, arupavacara-citta or lokuttara-citta, are not differentiated as asankharika or sasankharika because by nature they are all sasankharika with the definition that these citta cannot arise by themselves but depend on development of the distinct citta to arise, unlike the kamavacara-citta that differ into strong citta and weak citta. This is because, for the rupajhana-kusala-citta, arupajhana-kusala-citta or lokuttara-kusala-citta to arise, the kamavacara-kusala-nana-sampayutta-citta must have arisen previously. Without the development of kamavacara-kusala-nana-sampayutta-citta as inducement, the jhana-kusala-citta or lokuttara-kusala-citta cannot arise at all. Therefore citta of other bhumi, or rupavacara-citta, arupavacara-citta and lokuttara-citta, are all sasankharika and nana-sampayutta without exception.
Each would be able to know the characteristics of asankharika- and sasankharika-citta of one's own. For example, do those who come to listen to the dhamma depend upon the inducement of others? At first maybe there was no desire to come but someone persuaded them to. But afterwards they come by themselves. The characteristics of the citta of those that came by themselves differ from those with inducements. Not that there is always sasankharika or only asankharika. As in those who were asked to go to a cinema. When asked, the citta was weak. But if the movie was entertaining, exciting, they laughed, enjoyed it and at that instant the citta was no longer weak. No one induced them to laugh and have fun. But the citta of that instant was strong and arose with somanassa- vedana so there was enjoyment and laughter and therefore the citta is asankharika. This demonstrates the characteristic of anatta of each instant of citta that arises and evolves according to conditions. Even though now it is so, the next instant it can be another way according to causes and conditions.
QUESTIONS
1. What
are sankhara-dhamma, sankhara-khandha, abhisankhara, asankharika and sasankharika?
2. How
are the 8 lobha-mula-citta and the 8 mahakusala-citta alike?
How do they differ?
Chapter 13
Citta differ by sampayutta-dhamma that are "hetu".
The reality that is sankhara-dhamma cannot arise spontaneously by itself without any paccaya. There are 3 paramattha-dhamma that are sankhara-dhamma, namely citta, cetasika and rupa. Citta arises from cetasika as paccaya and some citta arise from cetasika and rupa as paccaya. Rupa arises from rupa as paccaya and some rupa issue from citta, cetasika and rupa as paccaya. Thus citta differ by hetu: some citta arise concurrently with cetasika that are hetu and some with cetasika that are not hetu.
The paramattha-dhamma that are hetu consist of only 6 cetasika comprising
1. Lobha-cetasika as lobha-hetu. -All realities other than these 6 cetasika are not hetu-paccaya. Other cetasika that arise with the citta are paccaya for the citta to arise but they are not hetu-paccaya: not paccaya by being hetu. Hetu-paccaya is only one among as many as 24 distinct realities that are diverse paccaya (principal paccaya). The six cetasika that are hetu are like the main root of trees, which cause the trees to grow and develop healthily, beautifully and prolifically. Likewise, when the cetasika that are the six hetu arise, they also render realities increasingly flourishing and fruitful. Those who are not the arahanta would still have both akusala-hetu and kusala-hetu. When one is an arahanta, both akusala-hetu and kusala-hetu are eradicated, thus the alobha-cetasika, adosa-cetasika and panna (amoha)-cetasika that arise with the citta of the arahanta would be abyakata-hetu, i.e. neither akusala-hetu nor kusala-hetu.
2. Dosa-cetasika as dosa-hetu. - 3 akusala-hetu altogether.
3. Moha-cetasika as moha-hetu. _
4. Alobha-cetasika as alobha-hetu. -
2. Adosa-cetasika as adosa-hetu. - 3 sobhana-hetu altogether.
3. Amoha-cetasika as amoha-hetu. -
The reality that is abyakata-dhamma is one that is neither kusala nor akusala. Therefore the vipaka-citta, kiriya-citta, vipaka-cetasika, kiriya-cetasika, rupa and nibbana are abyakata-dhamma because they are neither kusala nor akusala.
The six hetu are categorized as 2 kindsOne should note that the term the 3 kusala-hetu is not used but the 3 sobhana-hetu instead because kusala-hetu is the cause for kusala-vipaka as result but sobhana-hetu, which is a good hetu, can arise with kusala-citta, kusala-vipaka-citta or sobhana-kiriya-citta. Sobhana-hetu, therefore, does not only arise with kusala-citta.
The 3 akusala-hetu, namely 1. lobha-cetasika 2. dosa-cetasika 3. moha-cetasika.
The 3 sobhana-hetu, namely 1. alobha-cetasika 2. adosa-cetasika 3. panna-cetasika.
The four paramattha-dhamma, or citta, cetasika, rupa and nibbana classified by hetu:
Citta is not hetu.
Cetasika of which only 6 are hetu, all others (46 cetasika) are not hetu.
Rupa is not hetu.
Nibbana is not hetu.
The
dhamma that are not hetu are called nahetu in Pali. Therefore
all dhamma can be classified into 2 categories: hetu and nahetu.
The 6 cetasika are hetu. Citta, rupa and nibbana and the other 46 cetasika are nahetu.
The citta and 46 other cetasika are nahetu or not hetu. But there are some citta and cetasika that arise concurrently with the 6 cetasika that are hetu while other citta and cetasika do not arise with cetasika that are hetu. The citta and cetasika that do not arise concurrently with the 6 cetasika that are hetu are ahetuka-citta and ahetuka-cetasika. Any citta and cetasika that arise concurrently with the cetasika that are hetu are sahetuka-citta and sahetuka-cetasika.
The cakkhu-vinnana-citta that is seeing objects that appear arise only with 7 cetasika, namely phassa-cetasika, which performs the function of coming into contact with the rupa in contact with the cakkhu-pasada; vedana-cetasika, which performs the function of indifference as upekkha-vedana (adukkhamasukha); sanna-cetasika, performs the function of remembering ruparammana; cetana-cetasika, performs the function of intent, volition, endeavoring, prompting the citta and cetasika arising with it to complete a task; jivitindriya-cetasika, performs the function of supporting and maintaining the concurring dhamma, or citta and cetasika, in the thiti-khana; ekaggata-cetasika, performs the function of focussing on the arammana appearing; and manasikara-cetasika, performs the function of attending to the ruparammana. These 7 cetasika are not the 6 cetasika that are hetu, therefore, cakkhu-vinnana-citta is an ahetuka-citta. The lobha-mula-citta that arises in sequence to that cakkhu-vinnana has 2 hetu-cetasika arising concurrently. They are lobha-cetasika, the reality that is pleased with the object appearing and moha-mula-citta arising concurrently. Lobha-mula-citta is therefore sahetuka-citta.
Dhamma are separable into 2 categories by hetu, being hetu and nahetu, sahetuka and ahetuka, as follows.
Nibbana and rupa are nahetu and ahetuka.Lobha-cetasika are sahetuka because there must always be moha-cetasika arising concurrently. If the moha-cetasika does not arise, lobha-cetasika cannot do so. Lobha-cetasika is, therefore, sahetuka, because there is always moha-cetasika arising with it.
Citta are nahetu, some are sahetuka and others are ahetuka.
The 46 cetasika are nahetu, some are sahetuka and others are ahetuka.
The 6 cetasika, namely lobha-cetasika, dosa-cetasika, moha-cetasika, alobha-cetasika, adosa-cetasika and panna-cetasika are hetu and sahetuka except for moha-cetasika arising with moha-mula-citta because moha-cetasika arising with moha-mula-citta are ahetuka.
Likewise, dosa-cetasika is also sahetuka.
Moha-cetasika that arises with lobha-cetasika in lobha-mula-citta is sahetuka because there is lobha-cetasika, which is a hetu, arising concurrently.
Moha-cetasika that arises with dosa-cetasika in dosa-mula-citta is sahetuka because there is dosa-cetasika, which is a hetu, arising concurrently.
Moha-cetasika
that arises with moha-mula-citta is ahetuka because there are no lobha-cetasika
or dosa-cetasika arising with it.
Phassa-cetasika is a nahetu but it arises with all citta. If a citta arises with one of the 6 cetasika that are hetu, then the phassa-cetasika would be sahetuka. If any citta is ahetuka, or without the 6 cetasika that are hetu arising concurrently, then the phassa-cetasika that arises with it would also be ahetuka. Therefore, phassa-cetasika are nahetu, sometimes sahetuka and others ahetuka.
In each person's daily life there must be both sahetuka- and ahetuka-citta. But since one hadn't heard the dhamma, one would not know which instant is sahetuka- or ahetuka-citta. The Buddha had manifested the characteristics of citta in great detail, which instant of citta is ahetuka-citta, which sahetuka-citta and whether the citta that is sahetuka-citta arose with hetu, if so, how many hetu, and how many cetasika arose concurrently with it.
Moha-mula-citta has only one hetu arising with it, therefore it is eka-hetuka (single cause).
Lobha-mula-citta arises with two hetu: moha-hetu and lobha-hetu, therefore it is davi-hetuka (double cause).
Dosa-mula-citta arises with two hetu: moha-hetu and dosa-hetu, therefore it is davi-hetuka (double cause).
As for kusala-citta
there must be sobhana-hetu arising with it, otherwise it cannot be kusala-citta.
There are 2 kinds of kusala-citta: kusala-citta that does not arise with
panna-cetasika and kusala-citta that arises with panna-cetasika.
Therefore kusala-citta that does not arise with panna-cetasika would have
2 cetasika that are hetu arising concurrently. These are alobha-hetu
and adosa-hetu. Therefore the citta is davi-hetuka. The kusala-citta
that arises with panna would have 3 cetasika that are hetu arising with
it: alobha-hetu, adosa-hetu and amoha-hetu. Therefore it is ti-hetuka
(triple cause). Kusala-citta is never eka-hetuka because there must
be both alobha-cetasika and adosa-cetasika arising concurrently for it
to become kusala-citta.
How are the terms hetu and paccaya different?
Paccaya is a reality that benefits and assists other realities to arise or maintain them according to the specific kinds of conditions such as phassa-cetasika, which is not a lobha-cetasika, while both phassa-cetasika and lobha-cetasika are paccaya beneficent to the arising of other realities such as citta, cetasika and rupa since the characteristics and functions of phassa-cetasika differ from those of lobha-cetasika, the phassa-cetasika would be a different paccaya from lobha-cetasika.
Phassa-cetasika is condition by being an ahara-paccaya. Ahara is a reality that brings results but it is not so steadfast as to make things flourish like the main root of a tree. While the realities that are hetu are paccaya by becoming the causes, like the tap root. Trees cannot flourish with the tap roots alone. There must be soil and water as nutrients. But without this main root, the soil and water cannot make the tree develop fully. Trees with tap roots would flourish differently from plants without one in the same way. Other realities than the 6 cetasika that are hetu are paccaya by being other conditions and not hetu-paccaya.
The Patthana Book, which is the seventh and last book in the Abhidammapitaka, manifests realities by their inter-conditioning: by being different paccaya. The first paccaya is hetu-paccaya, which shows the importance of realities that are hetu. At funerals when bhikkhu intone the abhidamma, they begin with "hetu-paccayo", which are lobha-hetu, dosa-hetu, mohahetu, alobha-hetu, adosa-hetu and amoha-hetu, to remind us that the realities that are causes for future results as future lifetimes and beings, are the six cetasika, namely lobha-cetasika, dosa-cetasika, moha-cetasika, alobha-cetasika, adosa-cetasika and panna-cetasika.
Truly, each kind of reality is of its own specific importance. The Buddha not only manifested one but many paccaya. Nor did he merely manifest arammana that is paccaya for citta to arise and experience it (the arammana) as the only "arammana paccaya" for the citta. But he manifested each and every paccaya in detail for the 24 major paccaya as well as their minor paccaya.
Cakkhuppasada-rupa arises because of other paccaya than the hetu-paccaya. And cakkhuppasada is, in turn, a paccaya by being the reality that is eminent: the indriya-paccaya, or being paccaya by being a reality that is predominant in its duty and function. Cakkhuppasada is cakkhundriya, the rupa which is the principal in being paccaya for cakkhu-vinnana to arise and see visual objects through the eyes. Without cakkhuppasada, sotappasada, ghanappasada, jivhappasada and kayappasada, what would this body be like? Like a log that does not see, hear, smell, taste or know bodysense contact. Therefore, the 5 pasada-rupa are paccaya by being indriya-paccaya or eminent in their specific functions such as the cakkhuppasada-rupa being predominant in coming into contact with ruparammana thus causing cakkhu-vinnana to arise and see what appears through the eyes because other rupa cannot perform this function. The object appearing through the eyes could be clear or not depending on the state, the clarity of the cakkhuppasada-rupa, which does not depend on cetana or desire or intention of anyone but on the indriya-paccaya of seeing, namely the cakkhuppasada-rupa.
All realities are paccaya for other realities to arise by being diverse kinds of paccaya. Lobha-cetasika, dosa-cetasika, moha-cetasika, alobha-cetasika, adosa-cetasika and panna-cetasika are paccaya by being hetu. Each day there are many akusala-hetu arising and some kusala-hetu, but when compared proportionately, kusala-hetu are much less frequent.
When will
kusala-hetu slowly develop until it is stronger than the akusala kind?
One must develop panna to know the characteristics of realities as they
truly
are because
knowing characteristics of realities as they truly are is panna-cetasika,
which is amoha-hetu. As long as panna has not fully realized the
characteristics of realities as they truly are, it is impossible for lobha-hetu,
dosa-hetu and moha-hetu not to develop and flourish. No other dhamma
except panna, which is amoha-hetu, can relinquish and eradicate akusala-hetu.
When one studies the dhamma and understand characteristics of realities
that appear through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodysense and mind, and
becomes the person who develops sati-patthana, the kusala that is amoha
or panna would slowly develop. Once there is realization of the ariya-sacca-dhamma
and one becomes the sotapanna-puggala, then akusala-dhamma would be eradicated
type by type and level by level until one reaches the status of the arahanta.
Those who attain the status of the ariya-puggala of the sotapanna, sakadagami and anagami levels are the sekkha-puggala, who must still further develop panna until there is eradication of both akusala-hetu and kusala-hetu because as long as there are kusala-hetu, there would still be paccaya for kusala- vipaka to arise endlessly. The arahanta who has eradicated both akusala-hetu and kusala-hetu, whose citta, though arising with alobha, adosa, amoha, would be abyakata-hetu, and not hetu to cause vipaka to arise any further. When will that day come? That is possible one day if one perseveres to develop panna continually. In the past there have been numerous persons who achieved those results, if it is something impossible to reach, there would not have been any. But the result would not come as quickly as one hopes, they correspond with the hetu. When panna has not arisen, or has not been developed, it cannot eradicate kilesa. Panna, in turn, must arise to be developed level by level respectively, to be able to fully realize the characteristics of realities until it is able to truly eradicate kilesa.
Therefore, one should always remember that the study of citta, cetasika and rupa is toward the development of sati-patthana to know the characteristics of realities that are citta, cetasika and rupa that arise and appear at which instant in reality; not deviant in the slightest from what the Buddha was omniscient of and manifested. If one studied and understood one thing and practiced another, without directly knowing the characteristics of realities as they truly are exactly as one has studied, one could not eradicate kilesa.
Akusala-hetu cannot be of any other jati. No matter whether they are lobha-cetasika, dosa-cetasika or moha-cetasika that arise in an instant, they are of akusala-jati and paccaya for akusala-citta to arise at that instant as well as accumulate in continuation into the future. But the three sobhana-hetu, namely 1) alobha-cetasika 2) adosa-cetasika 3) panna-cetasika can be of kusala-jati, vipaka-jati or kiriya-jati since alobha-cetasika, adosa-cetasika and panna-cetasika could arise with kusala-citta, kusala-vipaka or sobhana-kiriya-citta. The term "sobhana" has a broader meaning than the word "kusala" because sobhana-dhamma are realities that are kusala, kusala-vipaka or sobhana-kiriya. Therefore, since all dhamma are classified into 3 kinds: kusala-dhamma, akusala-dhamma and abyakata-dhamma, the 6 hetu-cetasika can be classified as 9 kinds of hetu:
The 3 akusala-hetu, namely 1) lobha-cetasika
2) dosa-cetasika
3) moha-cetasika
The 3 kusala-hetu, namely 1) alobha-cetasika
2) adosa-cetasika
3) panna-cetasika
The 3 abyakata-hetu, namely 1) alobha-cetasika
2) adosa-cetasika
3) panna-cetasika
1. What
paramattha-dhamma are hetu-paccaya?
2. What
is abyakata-hetu? Which are they?
3. What
is abyakata-dhamma? Which are they?
4. How
are kusala-hetu and sobhana-hetu different?
5. What
are nahetu? What are sahetuka?
6. Which
hetu-cetasika are ahetuka? Which are sahetuka?
7. Which
akusala-citta is eka-hetuka? Which are davi-hetuka?
8. Can
kusala-citta be eka-hetuka?
9. Is
phassa-cetasika hetu or nahetu? Is it ahetuka or sahetuka?
Is it eka-hetuka, davi-hetuka or ti-hetuka?
10. What
are the 9 hetu?
Chapter 14
Classification of citta by sobhana and asobhana
Sobhana-dhamma is a good reality [citta and cetasika], which includes not only kusala-dhamma. Good realities which are not kusala-dhamma are kusala- vipaka, which are the results of kusala-kamma and sobhana-kiriya, which are citta and cetasika of the arahanta with completely eradicated kusala and akusala.
Asobhana-dhamma is the opposite reality [nama-dhamma] of sobhana-dhamma. It is not a good reality, which not only includes akusala-cetasika. Any citta and cetasika that do not have sobhana-cetasika arising with them are asobhana. Therefore the sampayutta-dhamma that differentiate citta as good or sobhana and as bad or asobhana are the cetasika which comprise the six hetu. The good cetasika are the alobha-, adosa- and panna-cetasika etc. which are the sobhana-cetasika that render citta good. Therefore the classification of citta by sobhana and asobhana types results from the classification by hetu. Any citta that is composed of cetasika that are sobhana-hetu is a sobhana-citta. Any citta that is composed of cetasika that are asobhana-hetu is an asobhana-citta.
To study the paramattha-dhamma, one must think and consider its logical reasoning oneself. When one understands the right and clear reasoning, one would not be confused or erroneous even in the matter of sobhana- and asobhana-dhamma.
Akusala-citta arises concurrently with lobha, dosa and moha. Therefore akusala-citta is certainly not a sobhana-citta.