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Abhi Dhamma
Abhi Dhamma
Q.1 Express the relationship between Citta and Citasika with examples and
describe the summary of permutation that Ācariya Anuruddha will write in
the compendium of mental factor?
A1. The cetasikas are mental phenomena that occur in immediate conjunction with
citta, or “consciousness,” and assist citta by performing more specific tasks in the
total act of cognition. The mental factors cannot arise without citta, nor can citta
arise completely segregated from the mental factors. But, though the two are
functionally independent, citta is regarded as primary, because the mental factors
assist in the cognition of the object depending upon citta, which is the principal
cognitive element. The relationship between citta and cetasikas is compared to that
between a king and his retinue. Although one says “the king is coming,” the king
does not come alone, but he always comes accompanied by his attendants.
Similarly, whenever a citta arises, it never arises alone but always accompanied by
its retinue of cetasikas.
In the Compendium of Mental Factors, Ācariya Anuruddha first enumerates all the
mental factors in their appropriate classes. Thereafter, he investigates the mental
factors from two complementary points of view. The first of these is called “the
method of association” (sampayoganaya). This method takes the mental factors as
the basis of inquiry and seeks to determine which types of citta each mental factor
is associated with. The second point of view is called “the method of combination,
or inclusion” (sangahanaya). This method takes the citta as primary and seeks to
determine, for each type of citta, which mental factors are combined within it. (Pg-
76)
Q2. Write down the four characteristic of mental factor with reference Pali
roman and that is completed for the states associate with consciousness
(cetoyutta) only with characteristics of arising together with consciousness
(Ekuppāda). But the author write continue other three characteristics. Why?
Give your answer to it.
A2. That arise and cease together (with consciousness): The first verse defines the
mental factors by way of four characteristics that are common to them all:
1. Arising together with consciousness (ekuppāda);
2. Ceasing together with consciousness (ekanirodha);
3. Having the same object as consciousness (ekālambana);
4. Having the same base as consciousness (ekavatthuka).
These four characteristics delineate the relationship between the citta and its
concomitant cetasikas. If only “arising together” were mentioned, the definition
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Finally, in those realms in which the aggregate of material form is found, that is, the
sensory world and the fine-material world, the citta and the cetasikas have the same
physical base, that is, they arise with the common support of either one of the
material sense organs or the heart-base. This is the fourth characteristic of cetasikas.
(Pg-77)
Q4. Write the four characteristic of mental factors Avarice and envy and
explain to be creation of evil kammas by avarice and envy as much as you can.
A4. Avarice (macchariya): The characteristic of avarice61 (or stinginess) is
concealing one’s own success when it has been or can be obtained. Its function is
not to bear sharing these with others. It is manifested as shrinking away (from
sharing) and as meanness, or sour feeling. Its proximate cause is one’s own success
Envy (issā): Envy has the characteristic of being jealous of others’ success. Its
function is to be dissatisfied with others’ success. It is manifested as aversion
towards that. Its proximate cause is others’ success. (Pg-84)
(…write it with own word about evil kamma by avarice and envy…….)
Q5.According to the Abhidhamma, explain the meaning of Abstinence and
describe clearly the meaning of three kinds of virati the following.
1. Natural abstinence,
2. Abstinences by undertaking precepts,
3. Abstinence by eradication.
A5. The abstinences (virati) are three beautiful mental factors, which are
responsible for the deliberate abstinence from wrong conduct by way of action,
speech, and livelihood. In mundane consciousness, the viratis are operative only on
an occasion when one intentionally refrains from a wrong mode of conduct for
which an opportunity has arisen. When a person refrains from evil deeds without
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an opportunity for their performance arising, this is not a case of virati but of pure
moral conduct (sīla).
The commentators distinguish three types of virati: (1) natural abstinence; (2)
abstinence by undertaking precepts; and (3) abstinence by eradication.
1. Natural abstinence (sampattavirati) is the abstinence from evil deeds when the
opportunity arises to engage in them, due to the consideration of one’s social
position, age, level of education, etc. An example is refraining from theft out
of concern that one’s reputation would be hurt if one were caught.
2. Abstinence by undertaking precepts (samādānavirati) is the abstinence from
evil deeds because one has undertaken to observe precepts, for example, the
Five Precepts (pañca-sīla) of abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual
misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants.
3. Abstinence by eradication (sammucchedavirati) is the abstinence associated
with the supramundane path consciousness, which arises eradicating the
dispositions towards evil deeds. Whereas the previous two viratis are
mundane, this one is supramundane. (Pg-88)
Q6. Express the four kinds of wrong speech, three kinds of wrong bodily
Action and five kings of wrong livelihood. Write down the four characteristic
of viriti.
A6. The four kinds of wrong speech: false speech, from slander, from harsh
speech, and from frivolous talk.
The three kinds of wrong Bodily: from killing, from stealing, and from sexual
misconduct.
The five kinds of wrong livelihood: such as dealing in poisons, intoxicants,
weapons, slaves, and animals for slaughter. (Pg-89)
These three viratis have the respective characteristics of non-transgression by
bodily misconduct, by wrong speech, and by wrong livelihood. Their function is to
shrink back from evil deeds. They are manifested as the abstinence from such
deeds. Their proximate causes are the special qualities of faith, shame, fear of
wrongdoing, fewness of wishes, etc. They should be regarded as the mind’s
aversion to wrong-doing. (Page- 89)
Q7. Elucidate the difference between the wrong view and conceit that are
found in the same citta rooted in greed. Translate the following paragraph into
English.
Paññā pana dvādasasu ñāṇasampayutta-kāmāvacaracittesu c’eva sabbesu
pañcatiṁsa mahaggata-lokuttaracittesu cā ti sattacattāḷīsa cittesu sampayogaṁ
gacchatī ti.
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A7. Both of these factors are found only in the cittas rooted in greed (lobha), for
they involve some degree of holding to the five aggregates (khandha). However,
the two exhibit contrary qualities, and, thus, they cannot coexist in the same citta.
Wrong view occurs in the mode of misapprehending, that is, interpreting things in a
manner contrary to actuality; conceit occurs in the mode of self-evaluation, that is,
of taking oneself to be superior, equal, or inferior to others. Whereas wrong view is
necessarily present in the four cittas rooted in greed accompanied by wrong view,
conceit is not a necessary concomitant of the four greed-rooted cittas dissociated
from wrong view. It does not arise apart from these cittas, but these cittas can occur
without conceit. (Pg-94)
Wisdom goes into combination with forty-seven types of consciousness — namely,
the twelve types of sense-sphere consciousness associated with knowledge, and the
thirtyfive sublime and supramundane types of consciousness (12+35=47).(pg-97)
Q8. Describe the eleven kinds of unfixed adjunct factor and do the two
illimitable arise in the fifth jhana Citta? Give answer it with reason and
original Pāli reference.
A8. The eleven unfixed adjunct are :
1. envy ( Issā),
2. avarice (Macchera ),
3. worry (kukkucca),
4. right view (Samma-ditthi),
5. right action (samma kammanta),
6. right livelihood (Samma ajiva)
7. Compassion (karuṇā)
8. Appreciative joy (muditta),
9. Conceit (Mana),
10.Sloth (thina) and
11. Torpor (Middha) (Pg-99)
These two illimitables (as well as loving-kindness) do not arise in the fifth jhāna
cittas because, at the level of jhāna, they are necessarily connected to joyful
mental feeling (somanassa), which, in the fifth jhāna, is replaced by equanimous
feeling (upekkhā). Some teachers deny that the illimitables are found in the
sense-sphere cittas accompanied by equanimity, but from the author’s use of the
expression “some, however, say,” he apparently does not share their view.
(Pg-98)
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A.In the sense-sphere beautiful types of consciousness, first in the wholesome types
of consciousness, in the first couplet, thirty-eight states enter into combination,
namely, the thirteen ethically variable mental factors and the twenty-five beautiful
mental factors (13 + 25 = 38). But here, the (two) illimitables and the (three)
abstinences should be combined separately. (Pg-104)
2). Express Cittas that associated with the second and fourth couplet, in the
sense-sphere beautiful, the functional types of consciousness in detail. And
describe the mental factors that are the basis distinctions with reference
original Pali.
A2) In the sense-sphere beautiful types of consciousness, Second in the wholesome
types of consciousness, in the Second couplet, thirty-seven states enter into
combination, namely, the thirteen ethically variable mental factors and the twenty-
four beautiful mental factors, Excluding knowledge. (Page-104)
In the sense-sphere beautiful types of consciousness, fourth in the wholesome types
of consciousness, in the fourth couplet, thirty-six states enter into combination,
namely, the twelve ethically variable mental factors Excluding zest and the twenty-
four beautiful mental factors, Excluding knowledge. (Page- 104)
Anuttare jhānadhammā appamaññā ca majjhime Viratī ñāṇapīti ca parittesu
visesakā.
In the supreme (that is, the supramundane), the jhāna factors are the basis of
distinctions, in the middle (that is, the sublime), the illimitables (and jhāna factors),
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and in the limited (that is, the sense-sphere beautiful), the abstinences, knowledge,
and zest are the basis of distinctions.
3).Express the fourteen mental factors that are associated with all the
unwholesome types of consciousness (sabbakusalayogi). And describe the
determining consciousness, the triple mind element and the pair of rootless
rebirth linking. What are they?
A3) These fourteen mental states, that are associated with all the unwholesome
types of consciousness. Are namely, the four unwholesome universals; 1. Delusion,
2 shamelessness, 3 fearlessness of wrong doing,4 restlessness and ten variables; 1
contact, 2 feeling, 3 perception, 4 volition, 5 one pointedness, 6 mental life faculty,
7 attention, 8 initial application, 9 sustained application, 10 energy. (Page 108)
The determining consciousness (votthapana): This consciousness is the same as
the mind-door adverting consciousness, which, in the five sense doors, performs the
function of determining the object.
The triple mind element (manodhātuttika): This is a collective term for the five-
door adverting consciousness (pañcadvārāvajjana) and the two types of receiving
consciousness (sampaṭicchana).
Pair of rootless rebirth-linking types of consciousness (paṭisandhi): These are the
two kinds of investigating consciousness accompanied by equanimity. (Page 109)
4). Describe what they are the fifty-three (tepaññāsa) with its explanation from
the first stanza of Pakinnaka, and express the meaning of feeling.
A4) the fifty-three (tepaññāsa) are one consciousness and 52 mental factor.
The fifty-three associated states: Though 89 (or 121) types of consciousness are
recognized in the Abhidhamma, these are treated collectively as a single dhamma,
or reality, because they all have the same characteristic, namely, the cognizing of an
object. However, the fifty-two cetasikas are considered to be each a separate reality
because they all have different characteristics. Thus, there are, altogether, fifty-
three associated mental phenomena. Page-114
As we have seen, feeling (vedanā) is a universal mental factor, the cetasika with the
function of experiencing the “flavor” of the object. Since some sort of feeling
accompanies every citta, feeling serves as an important variable in terms of which
consciousness can be classified. In this section, the author’s main concern is to
classify the totality of cittas by way of their concomitant feeling.(Page-115)
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5). Enumerate the feelings by way of the governing faculty and its affective and
compare the threefold and fivefold feeling and express the feelings what the
Buddha talk in the sutta with their explanation.
A5) Feeling is analysed as fivefold: When feeling is analyzed by way of the
governing faculty (indriya), it becomes fivefold. These five types of feelings are
called faculties because they exercise lordship (indra), or control, over their
associated states with respect to the affective mode of experiencing the object.
When the fivefold analysis of feeling is considered, the pleasant feeling of the
threefold scheme becomes divided into pleasure and joy, the former bodily and the
latter mental; and neither-pleasant-nor-painful feeling becomes identified with
equanimity, or neutral feeling.
In the Suttas, the Buddha sometimes also speaks of feeling as twofold, pleasure
(sukha) and pain (dukkha). This is a loose or metaphorical method of analysis,
arrived at by merging the blameless neutral feeling in pleasure and the blameworthy
neutral feeling in pain. The Buddha further declares that whatever is felt is
included in suffering (yaṁ kiñci vedayitaṁ taṁ dukkhasmiṁ [ Saṁyutta Nikāya]).
In this statement, the word dukkha does not bear the narrow meaning of “painful
feeling,” but the broader meaning of “the suffering inherent in all conditional things
(sabbe saṁkhārā) by reason of their impermanence (anicca).” Page-115)
6). In the two sets of fivefold sense consciousness, the first four pairs of sense
consciousness are feeling of equanimity. The two body-consciousness are
pleasure or pain feeling. Why. What is different between then? Explain it,
according to the commentary and divided the six kinds of roots by way of
unwholesome and wholesome.
A6) Pleasure and pain are each found in one: It should be noted that, while the
four pairs of sense consciousness other than body-consciousness are accompanied
by equanimous feeling, body-consciousness arises in connection with either
pleasure or pain. The Aṭṭhasālinī explains that, in the case of the four doors (eye,
ear, nose, and tongue), the sense object, which is derived matter, impinges on the
sense faculty, which is also derived matter. When this happens, the impact is not
strong, as when four balls of cotton placed on anvils are struck by four other balls
of cotton. Thus, the resulting feeling is neutral. But, in the case of the body, the
object consists of three of the primary elements — earth (paṭhavī), fire (tejo), and
air (vāyo). Thus, when the object impinges on body sensitivity, its impact is strong
and is conveyed to the primary elements of the body. This is comparable to four
balls of cotton being struck by hammers — the hammer breaks through the cotton
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and hits the anvil. In the case of a desirable object, the body consciousness is a
wholesome-resultant, and the concomitant bodily feeling is physical pleasure; in the
case of an undesirable object, the body-consciousness is an unwholesome-resultant,
and the bodily feeling is physical pain. (Page-117-118)
In the compendium of roots (hetu), roots are divided by two group namely, three
unwholesome root: greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), delusion (moha), and three
wholesome root: non-greed (alobha), non-hatred (adosa), and nondelusion (amoha).
7. Compare the fourteen function and ten stage, Express the meaning of
Bhavanga function (Life-continuum) to know for others and explain
Patisandhi, Bhavanga and Cuti consciousness's the different functions and
equal.
A7) Analysis of functions: In this section, the eighty-nine types of consciousness
are classified by way of function. The Abhidhamma posits, altogether, fourteen
functions performed by different kinds of consciousness. These are exercised either
at different phases within the cognitive process (3-13) or on occasions when
consciousness is occurring outside the cognitive process, that is, in process-freed
(vīthimutta) consciousness Rebirth-linking (paṭisandhi,) Life-continuum (bhavanga)
and Death (cuti).
By way of stage as tenfold: The word “stage” (ṭhāna) means a moment, or
occasion, between two other cittas at which a given citta is able to arise. Although
there are fourteen functions of consciousness, the five sensory functions of seeing,
etc., all occupy the same stage of the cognitive process, between the two stages of
adverting and receiving. Thus, the fourteen functions can be condensed into ten
stages of consciousness.
The function of rebirth-linking, life-continuum, and death: As pointed out above,
in any single life, it is the same type of consciousness that performs the three
functions of rebirth-linking, life-continuum, and death. At the moment of
conception, this type of consciousness arises linking the new existence to the old
one; throughout the course of life, this same type of consciousness arises countless
times as the passive flow of bhavanga, maintaining the continuity of existence; and
at death, this same type of consciousness again occurs in the passing away from the
old existence.
There are nineteen cittas that perform these three functions. The unwholesome
resultant investigating consciousness (santīraṇa) does so in the case of those beings
who take rebirth into the woeful planes — the hells, the animal realm, the sphere of
petas, and the host of asuras. The wholesome-resultant investigating consciousness
accompanied by equanimity performs these functions in the case of a human rebirth
as one who is born congenitally blind, deaf, dumb, etc., as well as among certain
lower classes of celestial beings and spirits. While the deformity itself is due to
unwholesome kamma, the human rebirth is the result of wholesome kamma, though
of a relatively weak degree. It should not be thought that investigation occurs at the
moment of rebirth or during the life continuum, for a consciousness can perform
only one function at a time. The eight great resultants — the beautiful sense-sphere
resultants with two and three roots — perform these three functions for those
reborn in the fortunate sensory realms as celestial beings and humans free from
congenital defects. The above ten cittas pertain to rebirth in the sensory plane. The
five fine-material-sphere resultants serve as rebirth-consciousness, lifecontinuum
consciousness, and death consciousness for those reborn in the fine-material sphere
of existence, and the four immaterial-sphere resultants for those reborn into the
respective immaterial planes of existence.
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4-The fifty-two cetasikas can also become objects of a minddoor process, as, for
example, when one becomes aware of one’s feelings, volitions, and emotions.
5-Nibbāna becomes the object of cittas occurring in the mental processes of noble
individuals, both trainees and Arahants.
6-Concepts — the class of conventional realities, things that do not exist in the
ultimate sense — also fall into the category of mental object. Pg-136
A5) The object of mind-door consciousness: The cittas that arise in a mind-door
process can cognize any of the five physical sense objects as well as all types of
mental objects inaccessible to the cittas in a sense-door process. Mind-door cittas
can also cognize an object belonging to any of the three periods of time — past,
present, or future — or one that is independent of time (kālavimutta). This last
expression applies to Nibbāna and concepts. Nibbāna is timeless because its
intrinsic nature (sabhāva) is without arising, changing, and passing away; concepts
are timeless because they are devoid of intrinsic nature. Pg-137
Manodvārikacittānaṁ pana chabbidham pi paccuppannam atītaṁ anāgataṁ
kālavimuttañ ca yathāraham ālambanaṁ hoti. Pg-136
(But the object of mind-door consciousness is of six kinds, and that object may be
present, past, future, or independent of time, according to circumstances.) Pg-137
For all types of eye-door consciousness, visible form alone is the object, and that
pertains only to the present. Likewise, sounds, etc., are the object of ear-door
consciousness, etc., and those too pertain only to the present. Pg-136
consciousness; during the course of life, it is held to by every bhavanga citta; and,
at the moment of death, it is held to by the death consciousness.
The object of the door-freed consciousness in any given existence is generally
identical with the object of the last cognitive process in the immediately preceding
existence. When a person is on the verge of death, in the last phase of active
consciousness, some object will present itself to the cognitive process, determined
by previous kamma and present circumstances. Pg-138
Five kinds of mundane direct knowledge are mentioned in the texts: (1)
supernormal powers; (2) the divine ear; (3) knowledge of others’ minds; (4)
recollection of past lives; and (5) the divine eye
8. Criticize six bases by the three worlds with original Pāli reference. What do
you know about hart-base? Explain as much as you can
A8) Tāni kāmaloke sabbāni pi labbhanti. Rūpaloke pana ghānādittayaṁ natthi.
Arūpaloke pana sabbāni pi na saṁvijjanti.
All these, too, are found in the sense world. But in the fine-material world, these
bases — nose, tongue, and body — are not found. In the immaterial world, no base
exists. Pg-144
Heart-base (hadayavatthu): According to the Pāḷi commentators, the heart serves
as the physical support for all cittas other than the two sets of fivefold sense
consciousness, which take their respective sensitivities as their bases. In the
canonical Abhidhamma, the heart-base is not expressly mentioned. The Paṭṭhāna,
the last book of the Abhidhamma Piṭaka, simply speaks of “that matter in
dependence on which the mind element and mind-consciousness element occur”.
The Commentaries, however, subsequently specify “that matter” to be the heart-
base, a cavity situated within the physical heart Pg-144-145)