Buddhism in a Nutshell
Nama (Mental Phenomena)

Two kinds of conditioned nama:

  1. citta (consciousness)
  2. cetasika (mental factors arising together with consciousness)
They are namas which arise and fall away because of certain conditions.


Citta (Consciousness)

Citta knows or experiences an object (arammana). Its function is to cognise an object. Citta is the 'chief in knowing'.

Cittas can be classified according to their nature (jati). There are four jatis:

The nature of consciousness is that it is either a wholesome consciousness, an unwholesome consciousness, a consciousness that arises as a result of a deed (either wholesome or unwholesome deed) or a consciousness that is neither a cause or a result.


Akusala Citta (Unwholesome Consciousness)

Unwholesome consciousness can be grouped into:

  1. attachment consciousness (lobha citta)
  2. aversion consciousness (dosa citta)
  3. ignorance consciousness (moha citta)


Cittas can also be classified according to their plane of consciousness. There are four different planes of consciousness:

  • kamavacara citta (sensuous plane of consciousness)
  • rupavacara citta
  • arupavacara citta
  • lokuttara citta (supramundane consciousness)

The supramundane consciousness is the highest plane of consciousness because it is the consciousness that directly experiences nibbana.

Another way to classify cittas is according to the intensity of the cittas.


Cetasika (Mental Factors)

Citta never arises alone. It is always accompanied by cetasikas, the mental factors that accompanied a citta. There is only one citta at a time, but there are several cetasikas (at least seven) arising together with citta. There are 52 kinds of cetasikas, 7 of which arise with every citta.

A cetasika has the following four characteristic properties:

  1. It arises together with citta
  2. It perishes together with citta
  3. It takes the same object (arammana) which citta takes
  4. It shares a common physical base (vatthu) with citta

The seven cetasikas (essential or primary mental factors) that arise with every citta are:

  1. phassa (contact) - contact or mental impression
  2. vedana (feeling) - has the function of feeling, either pleasant, unpleasant or neutral
  3. sanna (perception) - its function is to make a sign as a condition for perceiving again that "this is the same", function as memory
  4. cetana (intention) - also called volition, it determines action
  5. ekaggata (concentration) - or one-pointedness, acts to focus on the object
  6. jivitindriya (vitality or psychic life) - infuses life into cetana and other mental factors
  7. manasikara (attention) - directs the citta and its mental factors to its sense object.

Other types of cetasikas are:

  • akusala cetasikas (arise with akusala citta)
    • lobha (attachment)
    • dosa (aversion)
    • moha (ignorance)
    • mana (conceit)
    • ditthi (wrong view)
    • issa (envy)
  • sobhana or beautiful cetasikas (arise with wholesome citta)
    • alobha (generosity)
    • adosa (lovingkindness)
    • panna (wisdom)


Truth-Seekers? : Consciousness & Truth

"But what makes these 'experts' preach their own opinion and call it truth?" asked the inquirer. "Is it an inheritance of humankind to do this, or is it merely something they gain satisfaction from?"

"Apart from consciousness," answered the Buddha, "no absolute truths exist. False reasoning declares one view to be true and another view wrong. It is delight in their dearly held opinions that makes them assert that anyone who disagrees is bound to come to a bad end. But no true seeker becomes embroiled in all this. Pass by peacefully and go a stainless way, free from theories, lusts, and dogmas."

-Majjhima Nikaya

 
patisandhi : "relinking consciousness"
  • A rebirth consciousness that does not transmigrate from the previous existence, yet comes into existence by means of conditions included in the previous existence, conditions such as kamma


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