Prepared by
John D. Hughes, Dip.App.Chem., T.T.T.C., GDAIE
Anita Hughes, RN Div.1
Evelin Halls, Dip.For.Lang.Corres.
Pennie White, B.A. Dip.Ed.
Abhidhamma Class No. 16, 8 October 2002
Preface
An introduction is needed before we study the sobhana cetasika (Beautiful Mental Concomitants) and serves as a warning.
Consider a person who offers printed materials to persons who are not interested in the content. He or she uses the wholesome cetasika generosity and goodwill, however, this person’s action was unwise. It would be a wise action to offer printed materials to persons who are interested in the content.
We do not give out Buddha Dhamma materials to persons who are not teachable.
Another example of unwise action is give money to a person who will use it to buy alcohol.
One of the Buddhist precepts is not to have love for the wicked.
If we use wholesome cetasika towards wicked persons our wholesome action is without wisdom and brings unwholesome results.
If we use the sobhana cetasika towards good and wise persons then we are using our merit wisely.
sobhana cetasika
(Beautiful Mental Concomitants)
All cetasika are mental factors or mental concomitants that arise and perish together with citta and depend on citta for their arising and influence. Last week we investigated the unwholesome cetasika, the akusala cetasika. Today we will study the wholesome cetasika, sobhana cetasika, that influence the mind to be good as they arise.
The wholesome cetasika are cultivated as antidotes to the unwholesome cetasika. The fourteen unwholesome cetasika are weakened and eventually removed through the cultivation of the wholesome cetasika.
There are 25 sobhana cetasika that may be divided into 4 sub-groups.
1. sobhana sadharana (19): those associate with all sobhana citta
2. virati (3): those connected with abstinence from immoral actions, speeches and livelihood
3. appamanna (2): those connected with ‘boundless states’
4. pannindriya (1): that connected with wisdom or insight
sobhana-sadharana cetasika
(Beautiful Ones - 19)
1. saddha = faith, confidence
2. sati = mindfulness, attentiveness
3. hiri = moral shame
4. ottappa = moral dread
5. alobha = non-attachment, greedlessness, generosity
6. adosa = hatelessness, goodwill
7. tatramajjhattata = equanimity, mental balance
8. kaya-passaddhi = tranquility of mental concomitants
9. citta-passaddhi = tranquility of consciousness
10. kaya-lahuta = agility or lightness of mental concomitants
11. citta-lahuta = agility or lightness of consciousness
12. kaya-muduta = elasticity of mental concomitants
13. citta-muduta = elasticity of consciousness
14. kaya-kammannata = adaptability of mental concomitants
15. citta-kammannata = adaptability of consciousness
16. kaya-pagunnata = proficiency of mental concomitants
17. citta-pagunnata = proficiency of consciousness
18. kayujjukata = uprightness of mental concomitants
19. cittujjukata = uprightness of consciousness
virati cetasika
(Abstinences - 3)
1. samma-vacca = right speech
2. samma-kammanta = right action
3. samma-ajiva = right livelihood
appamanna cetasika
(Illimitables - 2)
1. karuna = compassion
2. mudita = sympathetic joy
pannindriya (1)
1. pannindriya = wisdom or insight
English Meaning of the Pali Words
Reference: Brown, Lesley (Ed.), 1993, “The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary”, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
1. saddha = faith, confidence
faith: confidence, reliance, belief especially without evidence or proof; belief based on testimony or authority; what is or should be believed; a system of firmly-held beliefs or principles; a religion. belief in the doctrines of a religion, especially such as affects character and conduct; the spiritual apprehension of divine truth or intangible realities.
confidence: firm trust, reliance, faith; source of trust; assured expectation; the state of feeling certain.
2. sati = mindfulness, attentiveness
mindful: taking heed or care; being conscious or aware.
attentive: steadily applying one’s mind or energies; intent, heedful.
3. hiri = moral shame
moral: of or pertaining to human character or behaviour considered as good or bad; of or pertaining to the distinction between right and wrong, or good and evil, in relation to the actions, volitions, or character of responsible beings; ethical.
shame: the feeling of humiliation or distress arising from the consciousness of something dishonourable or ridiculous in one’s own or another’s behaviour or circumstances, or from a situation offensive to one’s own or another’s sense of propriety or decency; disgrace, loss of esteem or reputation, an instance of this.
4. ottappa = moral dread
dread: fear greatly, regard with awe; fear, be afraid.
5. alobha = non-attachment, greedlessness, generosity
non-attachment: no action of fastening, no joining, no affixing or attributing; nothing attached, no intention to be attached; no adjunct
greedlessness: no intense or inordinate longing, especially for wealth or food; no avarice, no covetous desire
generosity: liberality in giving, munificence.
6. adosa = hatelessness, goodwill
hatelessness: no feeling or hostility or strong aversion towards a person or thing; no active and violent dislike.
goodwill: virtuous, pious, or honest disposition or intention; kindly feeling towards a person, cause, etc.; favour; benevolence; cheerful acquiescence or consent; heartiness, zeal.
7. tatramajjhattata = equanimity, mental balance
equanimity: fairness, impartiality, equity; tranquility of mind or temper; composure; resignation, acceptance of fate.
mental: of or pertaining to the mind; carried on or performed by the mind; taking place in the mind.
balance: equal in weight; neutralise the weight of; make up for; bring or keep in equilibrium.
8. kaya-passaddhi = tranquility of mental concomitants
tranquility: the quality or state of being tranquil; calmness, serenity.
tranquil: free from agitation or disturbance; calm, serene, peaceful.
concomitant: occurring along with something else, accompanying.
9. citta-passaddhi = tranquility of consciousness
consciousness: the state or fact of being mentally aware of anything; the state or faculty, or a particular state of being aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, actions, etc.; the totality of thoughts, feelings, impressions etc., of a person or group; such a body of thoughts etc. relating to a particular sphere; a collective awareness or sense; the state of having the mental faculties aware and active; the waking state
10. kaya-lahuta = agility or lightness of mental concomitants
agility: the quality of being agile; readiness, nimbleness
lightness: the quality or fact of having little weight; the fact of having a light load; smallness in quantity or amount
11. citta-lahuta = agility or lightness of consciousness
12. kaya-muduta = elasticity of mental concomitants
elasticity: the state or quality of being elastic
13. citta-muduta = elasticity of consciousness
14. kaya-kammannata = adaptability of mental concomitants
adaptability: the state or quality of being adaptable
adapt: fit, adjust, make suitable (to or for); alter or modify to fit for a new use, new conditions; undergo modification to fit a new use, new conditions.
15. citta-kammannata = adaptability of consciousness
16. kaya-pagunnata = proficiency of mental concomitants
proficiency: improvement in skill or knowledge; progress; the quality or fact of being proficient; expertness, skill.
17. citta-pagunnata = proficiency of consciousness
18. kayujjukata = uprightness of mental concomitants
uprightness: the quality of being upright or honourable
19. cittujjukata = uprightness of consciousness
virati cetasika
(Abstinences - 3)
1. samma-vacca = right speech
right: that which is consonant with justice, goodness, or reason; that which is morally or socially correct; the just, good, equitable, or correct points or aspects of something; correctness.
speech: the action or faculty of speaking; the ability to express thoughts or feelings by articulate sounds, the utterance of words or sentences; talk, conversation, discourse.
2. samma-kammanta = right action
action: the process or condition of acting or doing; the exertion of energy or influence; a thing done, a deed, an act
3. samma-ajiva = right livelihood
livelihood: lifetime; kind or manner of life; conduct; a means of living, a source of maintenance.
appamanna cetasika
(Illimitables - 2)
1. karuna = compassion
compassion: participation in another’s suffering; fellow-feeling, sympathy; pity inclining one to show mercy or give aid.
2. mudita = sympathetic joy
sympathetic: of, pertaining to, or resulting from sympathy or an affinity, correspondence, or paranormal influence; (capable of) feeling sympathy; sharing, responsive to, or affected by the feelings of another or others; compassionate.
joy: vivid pleasure arising from a sense of well-being or satisfaction; exultation; gladness, delight; an instance of this; the expression of glad feeling, outward rejoicing; mirth; a pleasurable, happy, or felicitous state or condition, especially the bliss or blessedness of heaven; a source, object, or cause of happiness; a delight.
pannindriya (1)
1. pannindriya = wisdom or insight
wisdom: the quality of being wise, especially in relation to conduct and the choice of means and ends; the combination of experience and knowledge with the ability to apply them judiciously; sound judgement, prudence, practical sense; knowledge, especially of an abstruse kind; enlightenment, learning, erudition; kinds of learning, branches of knowledge, wise discourse or teaching; wise sayings, precepts, etc.; sanity, reason.
insight: internal sight, mental vision; also: understanding, wisdom; knowledge of or skill (in a particular subject or area); mental looking to or upon something; consideration; respect.
References
Dr. Mehm Tin Mon, “The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma”, publisher Mehm Tay Zar Mon, Yangon, 1995, Ch. 2, pp.84-85.
Brown, Lesley (Ed.), 1993, “The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary”, Clarendon Press, Oxford.