Prepared by
Evelin Halls, DipFLC
Pennie White BA DipEd
Abhidhamma Class No. 43, 15 April 2003
Kaya-pagunnata and Citta-pagunnata
Glossary
diffidence: lack of confidence; distrust, (a) doubt. Lack of confidence in one’s abilities or worth; self-mistrust; (a feeling of) shyness.
pagunnata: proficiency, i.e. of mental factors (kaya), and of consciousness (citta).
Dr Mehm Tin Mon explains that kaya-pagunnata and citta-pagunnata “refer to the proficiency or skilfulness of mental concomitants and consciousness in doing their work. Their chief characteristic is the suppression of sickness in the mental concomitants and in the consciousness” (Mon, 1995, p 92).
“Kaya-pagunnata and citta-pagunnata are 2 mental phenomena associated with all wholesome consciousness.” (Nyantiloka, no date)
“Right Understanding is the factor that conditions most of all the development of all the wholesome qualities represented in the six pairs: kaya-muduta and citta-muduta, kaya-kammannata and citta-kammannata, and kaya-pagunnata and citta-pagunnata.” (Nina van Gorkom, 1999, Cetasikas, Part IV, Chapter 31)
Buddhaghosa writes that:
“The proficient state of the [mental] body is proficiency of body. The proficient state of consciousness is proficiency of consciousness. They have the characteristic of healthiness of the [mental] body and of consciousness.
“Their function is to crush unhealthiness of the [mental] body and of consciousness. They are manifested as absence of disability. Their proximate cause is the [mental] body and consciousness.
“They should be regarded as opposed to faithlessness, etc., which cause unhealthiness in the [mental] body and in consciousness.” (Buddhaghosa, no date, XIV, 148)
Nina Van Gorkom (1999) writes that according to the Dhammasangani (48, 49) the pair of kaya-pagunnata and citta-pagunnata:
“consists in fitness, competence and efficiency. Pagunnata is fitness, competence or efficiency in the performance of kusala.
“The Atthassalini (I, Book I, Part IV, Chapter I, 131) explains that proficiency of cetasikas and of cittas suppress mental illness and they are the opponents of the corruptions such as diffidence that cause mental illness.
“When the citta is akusala citta, there is diffidence, lack of confidence in kusala and then there is mental sickness.
“Mental proficiency assists the kusala citta and then citta and cetasikas are healthy and skillful so that they can perform their functions in the most efficient way.
“There are many degrees of efficiency in kusala. When right understanding is being developed, it conditions proficiency and skillfulness in all kinds of kusala.”
In the Gradual Sayings (V, Book of the Elevens, Chapter II, 4, Subhuti) the Buddha spoke to Subhuti about the traditional marks of belief (saddha) in a believer. One of these traditional marks is the following: “...Again, in all the undertakings of his fellows in the Brahma-life, be they matters weighty or trivial, he is shrewd and energetic, possessing ability to give proper consideration thereto, as to what is a fitting thing to do and how to manage it... this is a traditional mark”.
Van Gorkom (1999) writes, “There is a higher degree of proficiency as higher stages of enlightenment are attained and defilements are eradicated”.
‘Blessings for our Teachers’ long life’
As part of today’s Abhidhamma class, we will chant the Medicine Buddha mantra for our Buddha Dhamma Teacher John D. Hughes who is recovering.
His wife Anita and students are attending to him 24 hours each day.
We thank all the Doctors, Advisers, Nurses, Staff, Chief Deva and his retinue at the Maroondah Hospital for their dedication in caring for our Teacher.
We will continue with the 49 days of Medicine Buddha Practice.
May the merit of these good actions increase the health, strength and long life of John D. Hughes.
May the merit of these good actions increase the health, strength and long life of Anita M. Hughes.
May you be well and happy.
May all beings be well and happy.
References
Brown, Lesley (Ed.) (1993), “The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary”, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Buddhaghosa, Bhadantacariya, (no date), “The Visuddhi Magga”, translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Nanamoli, Singapore Buddhist Meditation Centre, Singapore, XIV: 147.
Mon, Dr. Mehm Tin (1995), “The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma”, publisher Mehm Tay Zar Mon, Yangon, p. 92.
Nyantiloka (no date) Buddhist Dictionary, The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, Taiwan, p 148.
Van Gorkom, Nina (1999), Cetasikas, Part IV, Chapter 31: Six Pairs of Beautiful Cetasikas, Sobhana Cetasikas,
http://www.dhammastudy.com/cetasikas33.html, accessed 18 March 2003.
Woodward, F. L. (1986) Gradual Sayings, V, Book of the Elevens, Chapter II, 4, Subhuti, Pali Text Society, London.
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