Glossary
mandala = a circular figure, with symmetrical divisions and figures of deities, etc., in the centre, used in Buddhism and other religions as a representation of the universe; an archetype of a similar circle, held to
symbolise a striving for unity of self and completeness.
kicca = function
vinnana-kicca = functions of consciousness
patisandhi = rebirth
bhavanga = subconsciousness
avajjana = advertence
dassana = seeing
savana = hearing
ghayana = smelling
sayana = tasting
phusana = body-consciousness
sampaticchana = receiving
santirana = investigating
votthappana = determining
javana = impulsion
tadalambana = registering
cuti = dying
(a) The importance of building mandalas correctly
Would you build a house without a plan? It is highly likely that you would
not because it would be too difficult to build a stable, long-lasting house
without a plan. The building plan is a mandala.
Would you build a life without a plan? At our Centre, we advise Members
to write a life plan to build their life. It is wise to have a written life plan.
We are a not-for-profit organisation. We raise funds to sustain our
Temple. To maximise our opportunities, we need a written fund raising
plan. This way Members will have a plan to follow, a mandala, that will
help and inspire Members and Friends to support our Temple.
If you have a written plan, your mandala of what you want to do will
become clear and complete. Following your written plan will guarantee
your success.
Buddha Abhidhamma is written down and available for students who wish
to learn Abhidhamma. The entire madnala is available for your study and
practice.
Mandalas are impermanent. They need to be dissolved when their purpose
is complete.
New madnalas can be created as needed. We strongly encourage our
students to write plans. We want them to be successful.
(b) Citta and cetasika compiled according to their functions (kicca)
Dr Mehm Tin Mon (1995: p. 117) describes the 14 kinds of functions performed by various citta. Dr Mon comments that it is remarkable to
note that every citta performs at least one type of function.
1. patisandhi-kicca = rebirth function or linking the past life with the
present life.
This is a kamma-resultant type of consciousness, and arises at the moment
of conception i.e. with the forming of new life in the mother's womb. Immediately afterwards it sinks into the subconscious stream of existence
(bhavangasota) and conditioned thereby, ever and ever again
corresponding states of subconsciousness arise. Thus it is really rebirth-
consciousness that determines the latent character of a person.
(Nyanatiloka: 1988, p. 163)
2. bhavanga-kicca = life-continuum or to continue the formation of life-
stream incessantly till death.
3. avajjana-kicca = apprehending or to advert consciousness towards the
object.
4. dassana-kicca = seeing the object,
5. savana-kicca = hearing the object,
6. ghayana-kicca = smelling the object,
7. sayana-kicca = tasting the object,
8. phusana-kicca = touching the object,
9. sampaticchana-kicca =receiving the object,
10. santirana-kicca = investigating the object,
11. votthappana-kicca = determining the object,
12. javana-kicca = apperceiving or enjoying the taste of the object,
13. tadalambana-kicca = registering or to continue enjoying the taste of the object
14. cuti-kicca = death function.
Please refer to Chart No. 4.2 in Dr. Mon's book "The Essence of Buddha
Abhidhamma" for a quick view of the citta performing their respective
functions.
It should be noted that bhavanga-citta is a kamma-resultant state of
consciousness (vipaka), and that, in birth as a human or in higher forms of
existence, it is always the result of good, or wholesome kamma
(kusalakamma- vipaka), though in varying degrees of strength. The same
holds true for rebirth consciousness (patisandhi) and death consciousness
(cuti), which are only particular manifestations of sub-consciousness.
(Nyanatiloka: 1988, p. 38)
In Milinda Panha it is said:
"Now, Venerable Năgasena, the one who is reborn, is he the same as the
one who has died, or is he another?"
"Neither the same nor another" (na ca so na ca anno).
"Give me an example."
"What do you think, O King: are you now, as a grown-up person, the same
that you had been as a little, young and tender babe?"
"No, Venerable, Sir. Another person was the little, young and tender babe,
but quite a different person am I now as a grown-up man."…
"… Is perhaps in the first watch of the night one lamp burning, another
one in the middle watch, and again another one in the last watch?"
"No, Venerable Sir. The light during the whole night depends on one and
the same lamp."
"Just so, O King, is the chain of phenomena linked together.
One phenomenon arises, another vanishes, yet all are linked together, one
after the other, without interruption. In this way one reaches the final state
of consciousness neither as the same person, nor as another person."
As we need a place or office to carry out a particular job, so citta needs
places to perform their function. Next week, we will study the 10 thana
(functioning place).
Bibliography
Brown, Lesley (Editor), (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
Mon, Dr. Mehm Tin (1995), “The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma”,
Publisher Mehm Tay Zar Mon, Yangon.
Nyanatiloka, (edited by Nyanaponika), (1988), "Buddhist Dictionary -
Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines), Buddhist Publication Society,
Kandy, Sri Lanka.
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