THE BUDDHA'S ANALYSIS OF MINDBy U Tin U (Myaung), Yangon (Being a translation from his original. Myanmar book) 1361 M.E., September, 2000 |
Table of Contents5. Meritorious Consciousness and Demeritorious Consciousness 6. The six 'particular' Cetasikas or the six 'Mixers' 7. Mental Concomitants that are common to each other, Annasamana cetasika 8. How Demeritorious Consciousness arises 9. "Enveloped by a deep darkness,...." the four Mental Concomitants of the Moha group 10. No shame to do evil, no fear to do evil 11. Restlessness, Uddhacca 12. The three Mental Concomitants that make up the Lobha (Greed) group 13. Wrong view, Ditthi cetasika 14. Ucchedaditthi is the source of the three wrong views with fixed destiny 15. Conceit, Mana 16. Three types of person; each with three kinds of conceit 17. The four Mental Concomitants that make up the Dosa (hatred) group 18. "It is sheer loss" 19. "Darling! How mean of you . ." meanness or stinginess, Macchariya 20. The two Mental Concomitants present both in the Lobha group and the Dosa group: (The fourth group) 21. Doubt or perplexity, Vicikiccha, the single mental concomitant, · that is not included either in the Lobha group or in the Dosa group 22. A Quick review of the 14 Demeritorious Mental Concomitants 23. The ten Defilements (Kilesas) of the Mind 24. One thousand five hundred kinds of Kilesa 25. (Morally) Beautiful Mental Concomitants 26. Nineteen Mental Concomitants, that are always present whenever meritorious action takes place (Sobhanasadharana cetasika) 27. "Ploughman! Don't forget to take your oxen!" 28. Shame to do evil and fear to do evil are the essential qualities of a man. 29. The two Meritorious Root Conditions 30. Equanimity (Tatramajjhattata): What it means 31. The pairs of Mental Concomitants that are always on the watch against the arising of Demeritorious Dhammas 32. A livelihood that is free from Evil, physically and verbally 33. Goodwill towards all living beings 34. The Light of Wisdom is held in awe by everyone. 35. Blamelessness is the true test of Panna 36. Now, what colour shall we blend to the naturally colourless Mind? 37. An 'Amulet' for you Appendix |
About the Manuscript The present book was originally written by U Tin U (Myaung) in Myanmar and has been published in 1999 under the title: "Myat Buddha nee kya seik ko lai lar chin". The author has translated it into English for a serialized publication in the DPPS Magazine. This manuscript comprises two portions: the typed portion is the installment contributions, 14 in number; the second portion in 41 handwritten pages is a continuation of the book. This portion has not gone to the press yet. The author wishes to ask for the indulgence of the publishers to put up with the shortcomings of the script. Correctness of the entire work of course is assured. U Tin U (Myaung) 25th February 2000 U TIN U retired from public service and volunteered for the Pitaka translation project launched by the Myanmar Pitaka Association (MPA) in 1981, first as a translator and later as an editor. In 1991 the MPA was voluntarily wound up and its Editorial Committee was renamed the Honorary Editorial Committee of the Department for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana (DPPS). U Tin U as an editor is member of the committee. He was awarded the religious title of Mahasaddhammajotikadhaja in 1998 by the State in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the cause of spreading the Buddha's Teaching. Namotassabhagavato arahato sammasambuddhassa Veneration to the Exalted One, the Homage-worthy, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened In all humility and devotion, I pay homage to the All-knowing Buddha, endowed with the eighteen kinds of' exceptional attributes, etc., and whose Wisdom must not be or cannot be fathomed (acinteyya). In consequence of this my veneration, may I be possessed of a mind that is clear, expansive and allied with intelligence, so that I may be able to write a book on Mind (citta) as expounded in the Buddha's Abhidhamma, in such intelligible expressions as would help the readers gain a good understanding of the nature and working of the human mind. And may those readers, having a grasp of the human mind, each gets established in virtue. |
Name Buddhaya siddham Homage to the Buddha: success be to me! It has been said that the main difference between man and animal lies in the fact that the former has intelligence. The inference that can be drawn from this statement is that 'a man lacking in intelligence is no better than an animal.' In daily usage a dullard is often called 'a bovine species', a rather wicked epithet, but perhaps his stupidity makes him deserve such an epithet. Our main concern (or proposition) here is that a person is expected to have the normal intelligence that a man should have. As the twentieth century is drawing to a close, people are saying that human civilization has advanced in our world. Many believe that standards of living have risen. They allude this to the progress of Science. True that there have been technological innovations, almost of daily occurrence, thanks to advancements in science. In as much am marvellous technological achievements beneficial to man have been recorded, there are numerous breakthroughs in the field of mass destruction. Almost every day, awesome inventions are vying with one another, threatening mankind with universal extinction. Indeed, the air we breathe is polluted both in the physical and figurative senses. The modern man wants to boast that he is in control of the physical world. Amidst this unheard-of (so-called) 'progress', natural disasters, wherein human contribution is not yet evident, are occurring at an unprecedented rate. Meantime, inhuman behaviour in many societies has caused horrendous mass killings by the million among mankind. The death rate surpasses that of the last War. Such a seething state of the world today naturally befuddles the average person. He feels quite helpless. But where else could one find help but within himself? "Oneself is the refuge for one" (attahi attano natho), so said the Buddha. This refuge within oneself is none ether than one's own mind, that is, one's own state of mind. A person with a pure and noble mind is forearmed with the fortitude to face the uneven nature of worldly conditions. So he does not pine away for his painful misfortunes. Nor does he get puffed up when highly praised. He takes the ups and downs of life merely as resultants of his past deeds and can keep his calm. He may feel a little distress under misfortune, but that is just human. He will never explode with anger or resort at foul means to assert his rights. This ability to withstand the vicissitudes of life with a proper attitude, in fact, is due to the gentle influence of the Dhamma shown by the Buddha. The teaching of the Buddha in the form of the Three Pitakas have been well inherited by the peoples of Myanmar along with other peoples who have embraced Theravada Buddhism. This deals with citta or mind which is the cornerstone of Abhidhamma, one of the Three Pitakas. The subject is treated in a reasonably short manner of presentation. Of the Three Pitakas, Abhidhamma Pitaka surpasses the ether two in that it deals with the Buddha's Doctrine in the ultimate sense, shorn of any reference to a person or place, hence it is 'special' (abhi)Dhamma. The Abhidhamma of the Buddha comprises seven books, namely: 1: Dhammasangani, 2: Vibhanga, 3: Dhatukatha, 4: Puggalapannatti, 5: Kathvatthu, 6: Yamaka, 7: Patthana. These seven books in Myanmar script of Pali are printed in 18 volumes, 12 texts as approved by the Sixth Synod, 3 Commentaries and 3 Sub-commentaries, all of them in Pali. Many of them have been translated into Myanmar. Whether in Thai or in Myanmar translations, these books are difficult to understand due to their abstruse and profound nature. A student needs guidance of a competent teacher to get at their meaning. The First of the Abhidhamma books is Dhammasangani which is the very foundation of Abhidhamma. Therein the Buddha proclaims the principal outline called Matiki, which has all the ultimate realities [i.e., Citta (mind), cetasika (mental concomitants), rupa (matter) and Nibbana], each of which is grouped under three headings, and thus are called Tika matika. There are 22 such groups, the first of which is called Kusala tika. It assigns all ultimate realities to three classes: 1, meritorious dhamma; 2, demeritorious dhamma; 3, dhamma that are neither meritorious nor demeritorious. It may well be said that anyone who cannot distinguish meritoriousness and demeritoriousness is not worth having a human existence. In other words, his being born in this human world is an utter loss. This is because if, as a human being, he does not knew what is wholesome action and what is evil action, he is liable to blunder all through life. For the human mind usually feels at home in evil. And evil actions beget evil consequences not only here and now, but also in the hereafter. After his death he is destined to be reborn in one of the four miserable existences of apaya. Hence, anyone in his right senses should be able to distinguish between good and evil. When is the mind in a good or meritorious state? And when is it in an evil or demeritorious state? What are the causes that make the mind meritorious or demeritorious? The nature of mind is analysed in fine detail by the Buddha in his Abhidhamma. To help the man in the street get acquainted with the basic principles of Abhidhamma, a number of commentarial literature have been produced by learned theras of yore. The line of such commentarial expositions thorough the ages is a long one, enriching the student's knowledge of Abhidhamma. Among the smaller commentaries the 'Abhidhammattha sangaha' is acknowledged by the learned as the most reliable. It purports to provide the beginner with a condensed exposition of all that are contained in the seven books of Abhidhamma. The method of condensation is not based on each of the seven books, but it is a compendium of all the facts contained in those books under suitable headings. It portrays the essential facts under nine headings, forming nine chapters, namely: l, Consciousness; 2, Mental concomitants; 3, Miscellaneous section; 4. Analysis of Thought-processes; 5, Process-freed Consciousness; 6, Analysis of matter; 7, Abhidhamma categories; 8, Compendium of Relations; 9, Mental culture. The arrangement of Abhidhammattha sangaha is so carefully made out that it serves as a Primer of Abhidhamma Pitaka. The present book is a study of the mental concomitants or cetasika, the second chapter of the Compendium. The purpose of the book is threefold: (1) to let the student acquainted with mental states, called mental concomitants, thereby making him well acquainted with mind itself; (2) to enable him to tell wrong from what is right; (3) to let him understand and cherish the essential features of Myanmar Buddhist cultural tradition that is rooted in Theravada Buddhism. An ordinary person is consumed by the eleven fires such as greed, hatred, bewilderment, etc., which are the defilements that arise in the mind. Whatever fire of defilement that arises in one's mind can only be quelled by the cooling water of one's purity of mind. Such mastery of one's own mind ought to be well demonstrated by us Myanmars as practising Buddhists. It is the author's sincere hope that our people may be able to show by example how to live a good, peaceful life with proper attitude of mind. The author of the Abhidhammattha sangaha was Maha Thera Anuruddha, who resided for most of his life in the Island of Sinhala (Sri Lanka) during the period not later than the twelfth century. Records say that he was born in the town of Keveri in Kanchapura state in the province of the Cholas. Kanchipura state is called Conjiveram these days, and Keveri still is known by its old name, a seaport town at the mouth of River Keveri. It is said that Maha Thera Anuruddha wrote this book at the request of one Namba while the former was residing at the Mula Soma monastery at Anuradha. His book, though small in size, has won wide acclaim. It has been translated from the original Pali into several languages including English, German, Thai, Hindi, etc, not to mention the numerous Sub-commentaries and Expositors in Pali. |
Mind in Myanmar language is 'Seit', an adopted word derived from the Pali word citta. There are many Myanmar words borrowed from Pali used both in daily speech and in writing. Many of these words, when thus adopted, have their meaning changed from the original. We shall have occasion to say on this, later. In the mean time we will dwell on citta or mind only. In Myanmar language we speak of someone having a good mind, or a bad mind; or having a kind heart. These usages carry only superficial meanings of the word citta. To have a fair understanding of its meaning, we need to discuss about the four ultimate realities that are basic to the world and that are unchanging at all times. The four are: citta (mind), cetasika (mental concomitants), rupa (matter) and Nibbana. In Pali they are termed as Paramattha Dhamma. The term paramattha is of wide significance. It also has been adopted into the Myanmar vocabulary as 'paramat'. To state briefly, the four paramatthas or ultimate realities are true to their own nature, not liable to change their real essence. All the world can be analysed into just these four ultimate realities; there can be no fifth one. A good grasp of the four ultimate realities is something that lies within the province of the wise ones. They are indeed abstruse. They may be considered as objects of the Ariya's mind. Since the four ultimate realities can be comprehended only through wisdom, for a worldling they remain lost in worldly usage. Reality is marred by worldly usage, as if a big mountain were standing between reality and common parlance. The Pali word for common usage, i.e., the terms and concepts accepted to be true by the people at large, is pannatti. It means names or nomenclature by which people make things known. For example, a piece of land surrounded by water is called an 'island' and people used the term 'island' in the common understanding of that concept. It thus becomes common usage. The Myanmars have also adopted the word pannatti as 'pyin-nyat'. So names and concepts as generally accepted are worldly truths though not truths in their ultimate sense. They cannot be disregarded. They are indispensable as media of communication. As a matter of fact, when the Buddha expounds the ultimate truths his unsurpassed skill in worldly usage lets his hearers - be they men or devas with various inclinations, understand what the Buddha means to say. Worldly truths are not real truths. They are liable to change. In this connection, one is reminded of a wise remark which says: " A rose by any other name smells as sweet." This statement points out the fact that names such as 'roses' may change where as the true quality of the rose's smell remains constant. What we call man, woman, dog, cow, etc., and all such terms that we use in the world belong to common usage. They lack any true essence but are mere nomenclature. They do not exist in truth and reality. What exist in truth and reality are just mind and matter, which are ultimate truths. Mind or nama in Pali refers to mental phenomena which in Abhidhamma means mind and mental concomitants. All living beings, from Brahmas and Devas, humans down to the tiniest insects, are mere compound things of mind and matter, having arisen due to appropriate causes. Whether in man or deva or brahma or animals, there are only 28 kinds of material qualities and 89 classes of consciousness (i.e., mind or mental state). Each of these kinds or classes stands close analysis. And there are 52 kinds of mental concomitants. Nibbana is the unique element standing apart from the three other ultimate realities. This is a brief description of the four ultimate realities or paramattha dhammas. In our present discussion we are going to focus our attention on mind: how it is formed and the essential role of the mental concomitants in the arising of the states of mind. Citta means consciousness. What is it conscious of? It is conscious of sense objects. Sense object is called Arammana in Pali, which has been adopted and called 'a-yon' in Myanmar. Great teachers of yore did not try to translate arammana, lest there should occur inaccuracies in meaning. So they have simply used a like-sounding word. (Note: The Pali 'r' consonents take on the lighter and easier consonantal sound of 'y', so that although in written Myanmar language, arammana is spelt as 'a-ron', in spoken language we pronounce it 'a-yon'. Our people have long been acquainted with Abhidhamma parlance so much so that daily use of such terms as 'rupa-yon' (ruparammana), sadda-yon, gandha-yon, rasa-yon, photthabba-yon, dhammayon, for the six sense-objects have come into vogue as though they belong to our mother tongue. Even if these terms were to be used in translation, such as eye-object, ear-object, nose-object, tongue-object, body-object and mind-object, they might sound strange to the ear (though these are correct renderings). The hybrid Pail words (rupa-yon, etc.,) are readily accepted as the six sense-objects. Their pure vernacular terms as: visible objects, sound, smell, taste, tangible object and thought, might be used. Yet they also strike one as pedantic. So the hybrid words (rupa-yon, etc.) have become popular usage with us since the times of our forebears. When consciousness arises, that is, when the mind becomes aware of a sense-object, other mental factors also arise together with it: they are called cetasika, mental concomitants. This word also has been adopted and is called ''cetatheik' which is simply a clever twist in Myanmar Orthography. There are four characteristic properties of a cetasika, namely:
There are seven mental concomitants or cetasika that are common to every consciousness: they are: (1) Contact (phassa), (2) Sensation (vedana), (3) Perception (sanna), Volition (cetana) , (5) One-pointedness of mind (ekaggata), (6) Faculty of life (jivitindriya) and Attention (manasikara). They are invariably present in all types of consciousness. They bear, so to speak, equal responsibility for the arising of any consciousness. Hence they are called 'Universals' or sabbacittasadharana cetasika. We shall now take up each of their roles. (1) Contact - Phassa Contact means touch. But it is not between matter and matter, but it is between mind and matter, and therefore is of deep significance in the arising of consciousness. It refers to the impact between mind and matter. It is through this impact that the mind is drawn to a sense-object. Without the functioning of contact, the mind cannot become aware of any sense-object. Contact therefore is impingement on the sense-base. Due to the impingement, there is a coincidence of the sense-object, the appropriate sense-base, and consciousness that makes the mind aware of the object. Contact thus brings together the consciousness (that has eye-sensitivity or the the eye as its basis) and the visible object. Herein, eye-sensitivity element is materiality, and so also is visible object. Due to the coordinating function of contact, eye-consciousness, that has its base in eye-sensitivity element, arises. The awareness of the visible object by the eye-consciousness takes place. In common parlance, the eye sees the object. The arising of eye-consciousness is brought about by contact, (that has eye-sensitivity element, i.e., the eye, as its base) between eye and visible object. In like manner, the consciousness that is based on the ear-sensitivity element (the ear) is made aware of a sound by contact that has ear-sensitivity element as its base. Thus there arises ear-consciousness. The consciousness that is based on the nose-sensitivity element (the nose) is made aware of a smell by contact that has nose-sensitivity element as its base. Thus there arises nose-consciousness. The consciousness that is based on the tongue-sensitivity element (the tongue) is made aware of a taste by contact that has tongue-sensitivity element as its base. Thus there arises tongue-consciousness. The consciousness that is based on the body-sensitivity element (the body) is made aware of a tangible object by contact that has body-sensitivity element as its base. Thus there arises body-consciousness. The five physical organs , i.e., eye, ear, nose, tongue and body , each has its own sensitivity element. Appropriate consciousness and their mental concomitants enter through their respective sensitivity elements, which thereby serve as doors for such entry. So the sensitivity elements are also referred to as 'doors' (dvara). Beside these sense doors, there is also a separate mental phenomena which is the mind-sensitivity element serving as the door for mind-objects to enter. This mind-door which has the heart or hadayavatthu as its base is made aware of mind-objects including various thoughts and ideas by contact that has the heart or hadayavatthu as its base. Thus there arises mind-consciousness. Contact that arises at its appropriate sense-door is called samphassa. There are six samphassa for the six doors, namely: Cakkhu-samphassa (eye-contact), sota-samphassa (ear-contact), ghana-samphassa (nose-contact), jivha-samphassa (tongue-contact), Kaya-samphassa (body-contact) and mano-samphassa (mind-contact). The mental concomitant of phassa impinges on its relevant sense-base with great impact. It is common knowledge through personal experience that when you see someone relishing some sour eatable (like lime, etc.) your mouth waters by the mere sight of it. This is how phassa can be very potent. Similarly, when talented actors play their parts well in a tragic scene, either on the stage or on the screen, the audience, overwhelmed by the pathos of the scene, find it hard to control their tears. This is another common instance of the power of phassa. (2) Sensation, Vedana Sensation is how you feel in your mind or how the mind reacts to sense-objects. When the mind comes into contact with any one of the six kinds of sense-objects, it may find it agreeable, or disagreeable, or neither agreeable nor disagreeable. Roughly speaking, these three kinds of sensations usually arise. When the object is agreeable, there arises a pleasant sensation; when it is disagreeable, an unpleasant sensation arises; when it is neither agreeable nor disagreeable, a neutral sensation arises. These three kinds of the way one feels about sense-objects is the characteristic of vedana. Whenever a consciousness arises, vedana or sensation invariably arises. Sensation is of six kinds depending on the sense-doors of its arising. Hence there are these six kinds of sensation born of contact (samphassajavedana) Cakkhusamphassajavedana (sensation born of eye-contact) sotasamphassajavedana (sensation born of ear-contact) manosamphassajavedana (sensation born of mind-contact). (Note: 'ja' is the shortened form of 'jati'='born of') (3) Perception (Sanna) On coming into contact with a sense-object, the mind perceives it, that is to say, it notes it as to its colour such as: This is white, this is red, or this is green. It notes it as to its former shape such as : This is round, this is flat or this is soft, this is hard and so on. This is called cognition of an object. Once the mind has perceived or cognized an object, it recognizes it as it has cognized on noted. A child who has everything around him to cognize, and which he is able to recognize. Sanna means simple sense-perception, the cognition of a child. It does not know about what the object actually is. It does not know the whys and hows about it. But the sense perception lasts, so that it enables one to recognize the object that has once been perceived. Repeated recognition of an object as such and such makes the mind conscious of it, like phassa and vedana, that makes the mind conscious of an object. Sanna is called by the object it perceives - not by the sense-door. Thus there are six kinds of Perception; 1. Rupasanna=the Perception of a visible object, 2. Saddasanna=the Perception of a sound, 3. Gandhasanna=the Perception of a smell, 4. Rasasanna=the Perception of a taste, 5. Photthabbasana=the Perception of a tangible object, and 6. Dhammasanna=the Perception of a mind-object. (4) Why Cetana is called Kamma? 4. Volition (Cetana) Cetana motivates, impels, prompts or induces the mental states associated with itself to the object of consciousness. Thus it acts as co-ordinator of its allied mental concomitants. It acts as an efficient team-leader, like a carpenter who fulfils his duties and regulates the work of others as well. It acts on its associates and sees to the accomplishment of the task. Thus it determines action. For this reason the Buddha says that cetana is called kamma. Cetana is classified according to the object, and there are six classes of cetana (volitions): 1. Rupasancetana with regard to visible objects, 2. Saddasancetana with regard to sounds, 3. Gandhasancetana with regard to smells, 4. Rasasancetana with regard to tastes, 5. Photthabbasancetana with regard to tangible objects and 6. Manosancetana with regard to mind-objects. (5) One-pointedness of Mind, Ekaggata Ekaggata means focusing the mind on an object. So it means concentration. Ekaggata with regard to an evil mind is called Evil concentration, micchasamadhi. For example, when the mind is concentrated on fishing ( or angling), it is evil concentration. When the mind is concentrated on an object of meditation, it is right concentration or sammasamadhi. (6) Faculty of Life, Jivitindriya The author of the Abhidhammatthasangha says that Life is the Faculty. The Pali word Jivitindriya is a compound of Jivita (life) + indriya (faculty). This terms has two aspects: by jivita it connotes that it sustains its associates; by indriya it connotes that it controls its associates. What the author of the compendium means in the aforesaid statement is Jivitindriya controls life through its sustenance. A living being is essentially a compound thin of mind and matter. Material life is controlled or kept alive by Rupajivitindriya and mental life is controlled or kept alive by Namajivitindriya. Since we are discussing about mental phenomena, we are concerned with Namajivitindriya here. Rupajivita sustains life from the moment of conception till the moment of death. When the kamma-born corporeality ceases it becomes lifeless. It is due to the ceasing of Rupajivitindriya. That is called the death of the living being. As for Namajivitindriya, it does not perish at the moment of death of the person. It continues to function in its three phases of its existence, i.e., the arising moment, the momentarily static moment, and the perishing moment (uppada, thiti, bhanga), after the arising of the death-consciousness. The three-phased thought process immediately follows the death-consciousness as re-birth consciousness of the succeeding existence, due to the functioning of the Relation of Contiguity (Anantara + Paccaya).* The Namajivitindriya thus keeps on from existence to existence until such time as the living being attains final Nibbana when mind and matter come to cessation. Viewed in this way, Jivitindriya is the principal mental concomitant. Just as the lotus is kept alive by the water, mental states are sustained by Namajivitindriya. It is the mental phenomenon that gives continuity to countless existence. This phenomenon (arising due to kamma at each fresh state of existence) is not understood by those outside the Theravada Teaching. They believe it to be a living entity called the soul or the life or the spirit. (7) Attention, Manisikara Attention means turning the mind towards the object. It makes its association get directly to the object. Consciousness has one object or another at all (waking) moments, thanks to Manasikara. There are three kinds of Manisikara, but we are not immediately concerned with them here. * Please Ledi Sayadaw: Patthanuddesa dipani. Thus far we have briefly discussed about the seven Universal mental concomitants that invariably arise with consciousness. These seven Universals, phassa, vedana, Sanna, cetana, ekaggata, jivitindriya and manisikara arise dependent on consciousness, and consciousness arises due to their arising. Therefore as Causal Relations, Patthana, they are mutually conditioned by consciousness. All consciousness without exception arise simultaneously with these seven mental concomitants. All of them play equal parts in all types of consciousness. Hence, they are called Universals. In Abhidhammatthasangaha they are termed as Sabbacittasadharana cetasika (mental concomitants having equal responsibility in all types of consciousness.) (Note: The Myanmar Acronyms for the seven Pali terms, meant for helping the students memory, are omitted here.) 5. Meritorious consciousness and Demeritorius consciousness Having understood how consciousness arises, we shall now consider how a good mind arises and also how a bad mind arises. The principle according to Abhidhamma distinguishing good and bad minds is not only natural but also is acceptable by peoples professing various faiths. The Buddha lays down that: A good action is blameless because it does not harm either oneself or another and therefore it is called meritorious. A bad action is blameworthy because it causes harm either to oneself or to another and therefore it is called demeritorious. (Note: action here means and include all verbal actions, i.e., speech as well as other forms of verbal expression.) The conscious mind by its own nature just cognizes the six sense-objects. It is the associate mental states or concomitants which arise under various circumstances that condition the mind how it feels about these objects, such as whether a certain object is agreeable or disagreeable. For example, in seeing a visible object, the mind is made to form its opinion whether it likes the object, or dislike it, whether it feels agreeable or disagreeable. At that moment, by the aforesaid criteria of good or bad as declared by the Buddha, blameworthy, i.e., demeritorious, consciousness may arise. The mind which is naturally colourless is thus tainted black by the demeritorious mental concomitants. Likewise, it may be tinged with the beautiful colours of the meritorious mental concomitants. In doctrinal parlance, demeritorious mental conditions are called 'white'. Thus, there arises either a demeritorious consciousness or a meritorious consciousness, due to the nature of the mental concomitants. Hence it should be noted that the natural factors that cause either a good mind or a bad mind are the mental concomitants that are associated with the mind. All states of mind belonging to the Buddha or to any living being are classified under three categories in Abhidhamma. The three are: 1. Meritorious consciousness, Kusala Dhamma, 2. Demeritorious consciousness, Akusala Dhamma, and 3. Neither Meritorious nor Demeritorious, Abyakata Dhamma. Everyone of us is experiencing the influence of either meritorious or demeritorious consciousness at all our waking moments. If we can tell the bad from the good in our mental states, we shall be able to lead blames lives, much to our benefit. Therefore let us discuss what dhammas are meritorious and what dhammas are demeritorious. We have discussed the seven 'universals' that invariably arise together with consciousness. We will now deal with the six kinds of 'particular' mental concomitants that arose together particularly with meritorious consciousness, or particularly with de-meritorious consciousness. In Pali they are termed as Pakinnakacetasika whose literal meaning is , 'of mixed character.' What this term connotes is that they mix with meritorious consciousness and thereby become associates of meritoriousness; or they also mix with demeritorious consciousness and thereby become associates of demeritoriousness. Old masters have adopted the Pali term as a hybrid called 'Pakein.' We will now describe these six 'Particular' mental concomitants. |
To be continued.
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