The Expositor
The Expositor
The Expositor
THE EXPOSITOR
(ATTHASALINI)
BUDDHAGHOSA'S
COMMENTARY ON THE DHAMMASANGAl'~H
THE FIRST BOOK OF THE ABHI-
DHAMMA PITAKA
VOL. I.
TRANSLATED BY
1ont)on
PUBLISHED FOR THE PALI TEXT SOCIETY
BY
THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, AMEN CORNER, E.C.
AND AT
NEW YORK, TORONTO, MELBOURNE, AND BOMBAY
EDITORIAL NOTE
1 A full general Index will appear with the second (and concluding)
volume.
BOOKS REFERRED TO
A.-ENGLISH.
B.-PALI.
A.=Ariguttara Nikaya, of the Sutta Pitaka. PTS, 1885, etc.
5 vols. and index. ·
Abhidhanapadipikasiici. Colombo, 1893.
D.=Digha Nikaya, of the Sutta Pit.aka. PTS, 1889, etc.
3 vols.
Dhp.=Dhammapada, of the Sutta Pitaka. PTS, 1914.
Dhammapada Commentary. PTS, 1906, etc. 4 vols.. and
index.
Dhs.=Dhammasaliga¢, of the Abhidhamma Pitaka. PTS,
1885. ,.,,
Jataka. . Ed. by V. Fausboll. . London, 1877, etc. 6 vols.
and index vol. ·
Kathavatthu, of the Abhidhamma Pitaka. PTS, 1894, etc.
M.=Majjhima Nikaya, of the Sutta Pitaka. PTS, 1887, etc.
3 vols.
Mahaniddesa, of the Sutta Pitaka. PTS, 1916, etc.
Mahavarp.sa. PTS, 1908.
Milindapanha. Trenckner. London, 1880.
Pts.- Patisambhidamagga of the Sutta Pitaka. PTS,
1905-7. 2 vols.
S.=Sa:qi.yutta Nikaya, of the Sutta Pitaka. _ PTS, 1884, etc .
. 5 vols. and index vol.
Suma.Ii.gala Vilasini, Corny. on Digha Nikaya. PTS, 1886.
Sn.=Sutta Nipata, of the Sutta Pitaka. PTS, 1913.
Udana, of the Sutta Pitaka. PTS, 1885..
Vibhaliga, of the Abhidhamma Pitaka~ PTS, 1904.
Vinaya Pitaka. Ed. by H. Oldenberg. London, .1879, etc.
Visuddhi Magga. PTS, 192_0. '
Yamaka, of the Abhidhamma Pitaka. PTS, 1911, etc.
UNPUBLISHE D p ALI.WORKS.
Papanca Sudani, Corny. on Majjhima Nikaya. (P. 188.)
Patthana, of the Abhidhamma Pitaka.
Sumali.gala Vilasini, Corny. on Digha Nikaya. (Vol. I. is
puplished by PTS.)
Theragatha, Corny. on, v. Pss. of the Brethren. (P. 77, n. 3.)
Udana Corny.
CONTENTS
PA.OB
CNTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE 1
BY
BUDDHAGHOSA
INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE
method.'-Tr.
a A great lake located by tradition in the Himalayas. We have not
traced thiS episode in any other work. Cf. Vinaya Texts i. 124.-Ed.
' 0~; 'the sage of wisdom or energy,' Ananda the Thera. Cf.
Kindred Sayings, p. 109, n. l; 321.-Ed.
6 Not the Thera, author of this work.-- Tr.
f ntrodiwtory Discourse 3
Ceylon, and in their tongue they wrote the book.1
[2] Rejecting from that ancient scroll the speech
Of Tambapanni, I shall here ini;cribe
On.the palmy~~-leaf the faultless tongue
That disobeys no rule of holy script,
Illuminate the minds of those who dwell
In the .Great Minster, suffering nor taint
Nor base commixture of the heresies,2
True meaning of the Abhidhamma show,
And satisfy the wise with chosen words
From expositions of the Sutta-lore.
In the Visuddhimagga I have told
Xhe stations of religious exercise,
Right conduct, super-knowledge, insight true.
These therefore laying by, I shall declare
Precept by precept all the holy script.
Give ear obediently, while I expound
The Abhidhamma-lore,3 for it is hard
To hear such discourse as ye now may hear.
different+laddhihi, with the views. The Mmy,idipa says that the two
othcir sects were the Abhayagirivasi, and the Jetavanavasi, dwellers at
the Abhayagiri monastery, and the Jetavana monastery respectively.
Some wrongly translate the expression as 'extrame views of the
Nikayas.'-Tr.
3 Abhidhammakatha11i is short for Abhidhamma-A!{hakatha'f/1.-Tr.
~ Sat1iyutta iv. 120. 6 lb. i. 1. ete.
4 The ExpoBitor
called atichattarp,, ' the pre-eminent sunshade,' and the flag
which is the largest and is replete with various distinguished
paints and colours is called atidhaja, ' the pre-eminent flag.'
And when many princes and gods are gathered together, the
prince who is specially ·distinguished and surpasses others in
birth, property, pomp, dominion, and other attainments is
called atirajakumara, 'the prince par excellence'; and the god
who is specially distinguished and surpasses others in age,
beauty, domi:hion, pomp, and other attainments is called
atideva, or abhideva, 'the peerless god.' Similarly Brahm~
is called .Atibrahma, ' the supreme Brahma.' Even so this
'dhamma' is called Abhidhamma, because it excels and is
distinguished by several qualities from the other Dhamma.
In the Suttanta, the five 'aggregates' are classified partially
and not fully. In theAbhidhamma they are classified fully by
the methods of Suttanta-classification, Abhidhamma-classifi-
cation, and catechism. Similarly with the twelve sense-organs,
the eighteen elements, the Four Truths, the twenty-two con-
trolling faculties, and the twelvefold Causal Genesis. [3] It
is only in the Indriya Vibhanga1 that there is no Suttanta-
classification, and in, the Vibhanga on Causal Genesis2 the
method of catechism is wanting. In the Suttantas the four
Applications in Mindfulne;;s are partially classified, not fully.
But in the Abhidhamma they are classified in detail under the
three methods. And the same with the Four Supreme Efforts,
the Four Steps to Supernormal Potency, the Seven Factors of
Wisdom, the Eight-fold Path, the Four Jhanas, the Four
Infinitudes, the Five Precepts, the Four Analyses. Of these
only in the Sikkhapada V iblianga is there no Suttanta-classifi-
cation.3 In the Suttantas knowledge is partially classified, ·
not fully. And so are the Corruptions (kilesa). But in the
Abhidhamma there is a detailed classification of knowledge
after the table of contents has been thus laid down: 'Under
the unitary method the basis of knowledge is . . .'4 and so
forth. Likewise the corruptions are classified in many ways
lb. If.
2
3 Cqnstruing ?hapitii with sa pan'esii of paragraph 8.
4 !ti = tasma. · Ma~1.idipa.
5 Majjhima, i. 108 f ., expounded by Kaccana.
6 Such as the Subha81.ttta, Di:1.ha, i. 204 f., expounded by Ananda, and
t Craving, conceit, and wrong view are the three principles which
pr<>long the evolutionary process of a being;....::..Tr.
2 Jana?,n and pass~rti may be taken in two ways; (a) as future passive
' There is .the profound and abstruse Patthana taught in due order by
the Great Sage free from the five "thorns," after intuiting the causal
relations of things. And a disciple penetrates it even as one sees a
material thing in the palm of one's hand '-Pyi Sadaw. 'The Great
Sage by his intuition has completely taught in due order things.of the
present in relation to causes such as condition, and there is the universal
Patthana, profound and very difficult to understand. The disciple
penetrates it as easily as one sees a material thing in the palm of one's
hand '-Ma7Jidipa. _ · ·
' There are the causal relations completely taught by the Great Sage in
due order by his intuition. These causal relations of conditioned things
of the present, profound and very difficult to understand, the Buddha's
disciple sees as easily as a material thing in the palm of his hand'-
G®Jthipada.
16 The Expositor
Hence omniscience is called the ocean of knowledge. . Of these
four oceans that of method is here intended; for omniscient
Buddhas penetrate it.1 And our Blessed One, seated at the
foot of the Wisdom Tree, penetrated it and thought: ' To this
has my vision pierced! lo, even to this Law have I reached,
who seeking and inquiring for more tlian a hundred thousand
ages, for over £our incalculable periods, here seated in this
cross-legged posture (as on a throne) have expelled every con-
.ceivable corruption.' And he sat on the 'throne' for yet seven
days, reflecting on the Law he had penetrnted. Then after
those seven days, he rose from the throne and stood gazing at
it for seven days without blinking his eyes, thinking,' On this
throne Ihave indeed attained omniscience.' Hence this doubt
occurred to the gods: ' Surely to-day Siddhattha [13] must
still have something to accomplish, for he has not abandoned
attachment to the throne.' The Teacher, knowing their doubt,
in order to quiet it, rose immediately into the sky and dis~
played the Twin Miracle. The miracle performed at the
throne under the Wisdom Tree and that performed at the ·
assembly of his relatives and that performed at the assembly
of the citizens of Pataliputta2 were all the same as the Twin
Miracle performed at the foot of the white mango-tree in the
garden of K.a:i;i.Q.a. · Thus having displayed the Twin Miracle
he descended from the sky and for seven days walked to
and fro between the throne and ~he place where he had
stood.
Now not even on a single day during the interval of twenty-
one days were rays emitted from the Teacher's body. During
the fourth week he sat in a jewel house in the north-west
direction. The jewel house here does not mean a house made
of the seven jewels but the place where he contemplated the
seven books. And while he contemplated the contents of thb
Dhammasangani, his body d:d not emit rays; and similarly
preaching.-Tr.
2 The Ga'f!fhipada raads Pii.dhiyaputta. Since the miracle was per-
formed for the subjugation of this ascetic at an assembly composed
of the citizens of Pa~aliputta, either reading is right.-Tr.
I ntrod1tctory Discourse 17
with the contemplation· of the next five books. But when;
coming to the Great Book, he began to contemplate the
twenty-four universal causal relations of condition, of presen-
tation, and so on, his omniscience certainly found its
opportunity therein. For as the great fish Timiratipiiigala
finds room only in the great ocean eighty-four thousand
yojanas in depth, so his omniscience truly finds room only
in the Great Book. Rays of six colours-indigo, golden,
red, white, tawny, and dazzling-issued from the Teacher's .
body, as he was contemplating the subtle and abstruse Law
by his omniscience which had found such opportunity.
The indigo rays issued from his hair and the blue portions
of his eyes. Owing to them the surface of the sky
appeared as though besprinkled with collyrium powder, or
covered with flax and blue lotus-flowers, or like a jewelled
fan swaying to and fro, or a piece of dark cloth fully spread
out. The golden rays issued from his skin and the golden
portions of his eyes. [14] Owing to them the different
quarters of the globe shone as though besprinkled with some
golden liquid, or overlaid with sheets of gold, or bestrewn
with saffron powder and bauhinia-flowers. The red rays issued
from his flesh and blood and the red portions of his eyes.
Owing to them the quarters of the globe were coloured
as though painted with red-lead powder, or besprinkled
with the liquid of molten lac, or wrapped round with red
blankets. or bestrewn with the shoe-flower, the sea-coral, and
bandhujivaka flowers. The white rays issued from his bones,
teeth, and the white portions of his eyes. Owing to them
the quarters of the globe were bright as though overflow-
ing with streams. of milk poured out of silver pots, or
overspread with a canopy of silver plates, or like a
silver fan swaying to and fro, or as though well covered
with such flowers as the wild jasmine, water-lily, chaste
flower, jasmine, and coffee-wort. The tawny and dazzling
rays issued from the different parts of his body. Thus the
six-coloured rays came forth and caught the great mass of
earth. The' great earth, having a thickness of two hundred
and forty thousand yojanas, appeared like a burnished lump
18 The Expositor
of gold. The rays penetrated the earth and caught the water
below. The water which supports the earth and has a depth
of four hundred and eighty thousand yojanas appeared like
gold dust poured out of golden jars. They penetrated the
water and caught the atmosphere which, nine hundred and
sixty thousand yojanas in thicknei;;s, appeared like well-erected
columns of gold. Penetrating the atmosphere, they sprang
fo>:th into the open space beyond. Going upwards they caught
the abodes of the four Regents of the world. Penetrating
these_, they. caught the Tavati~sa, and thence the Yama,
thence the Tusita,, thence the Nimmanarati, thence the Para-
nimmita-vasa vatti spheres, an-1 thence the nine Brahma
worlds, thence the Vehapphala, thence the five Pure Abodes,
and thence the four Aruppa heavens. Having.penetrated the
last of these, they sprang into the open space across to the
infinite world-systems. In so many of these places, there was
no light in the moon, nor in the sun, nor in the host of stars;
nowhere 'was there lustre, neither in the parks, nor in the
mansions, nor in the wish-yielding tree, nor in the bodies and ·
ornaments of the gods. Even Great Brahma, able to diffuse
light throughout. a billion world-systems, [15] became like a
glow-worm at sunrise. There appeared only the mere out-
line of the moon, the sun, the host of stars, and the parks,
mansions, and the wish-yielding tree of the gods. So much
space was flooded by the Buddha's rays. Such power is not
the potency of resolve nor of culture. But the blood of the
Lord of the world became clear as he contemplated such a
subtle and abstruse Law. Likewise the physical basis of his
thought, and his complexion. The element of colour, pro-
duced by the caloric order, born of the mind, steadily estab-
lished itself with . a radius of eighty cubits. In this way,
he contemplated for a whole week.
How wide is the Law, contemplated for seven nights and
seven days ~ It is infinite and immeasurable. This, of
course, refers to the discourse as thought out in the mind.
And it should not be said that the Teacher was unable to
finish preaching in a hundred or a thousand or ten thousand
years the Law mentally worked out in a week. For subse-
Introductory Discourse 19
quently the Tathagata, seated in the midst of the gods fro~
the ten thousand world-systems, at the Pa~Q.ukambala stone
at the foot of the Paricchattaka ·tree in Tavati~sa, making
his mother his chief witness, taught th~Law, passing from onP.
theme to another1 in a hundred, a th P.isand, and a hundred
thousand divisions. And infinite and immeasurable was !;he
discourse, which went on ceaselessly for three mont,hs with the
velocity of a waterfall, or streams of water issuing from water-
pots turned mouth downwards. For a speech of the Buddha
when thanking his host for entertainment, if elaborated a
little, may reach the length of a Digha or Majjhima discourse.
And a discourse given after a meal to the host of assembled
people reaches the length of a discourse in the two great
Nikayas, Sarµ,yutta and Anguttara. Why should it b~ so 1
Because the Bu-ldhas are but slightly occupied with the
business of maintaining life, the. lips close well, the mouth
opens lightly, 2 the tongue is soft, the voice is sweet, the deli-
very of words is quick. 3 Hence the Law, preached in such a
short time; is of the length stated ;4 when it was preached for
three months it must have been infinite an.d immeasurable.
The Elder Ananda was indeed of wide experience, a student
of the Three Pitakas, and could learn, recite and preach, as he
stood, one thousand five hundred stanzas or sixty thousand
feet, as easily as though he were gathering creepers and flowers.
That was the Elder's single course of exposition. None but
the Buddha was able to teach, or attain the distinction of
teaching this Elder the actual text, word by word. Even a
disciple of such surpassing mindfulness, intelligence [16] and
fortitude would not be able to finish learning in a thousand
years the sermons preached by the Teacher in three months
in the way mentioned above. 5
But how did the Tathagata, preaching continuously for
three months, sustain the body, which is the issue of grasping
In the Introduction to the Jataka storieR, the verses are said to have
been uttered by all the Buddhas when they attained omniscience under
their Bodhi-tree. Cf. Rhys Davids, Bvddhist Birthstories, 103 f.-Ed.
· • Dialogues ii. 173.
Introductory Disco1irse 23
Buddha 11re divided by. way of Pit,aka into three parts: the
Vina ya, Sutta and Abhidhamma. Herein both the Patimok-
khas (Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni) and the two Vibha1igas
(Bhikkhu . and Bhikkhuni), the twenty-two Khandhakas,
the sixteen Parivaras, constitute the Vinaya Pitaka.
The collection of thirty-four suttas beginning with the
Brahmajala sutta forms the D'igha Nikiiya; the collection of
one hundred and fifty-two suttas beginning with the Mula-
pariyiiya sutta forms the Majjhima Nikiiya; the collection of
seven thousand seven hundred and sixty-two suttas beginning
with the Oghatarar:a sutta forms the Sarµ,yutta Nikiiya; the
collection of nine thousand- five hundred and fifty-seven
suttas beginning with the Cittapariyiidana siitta forms the
Anguttara Nikiiya. Fifteen different treatises1 to wit, Khitdda-
kapatha, Dhammapada, Udiina, ltivuttaka, Sitttanipata, Y.i-
manavatthu, Petavatthu, Theragatha~Therigatha, Jataka, Nid-
desa, Pa~isambhida,.Apadana, B'tfddhavarµ,sa, and Oariyapi,~aka
form the Khuddaka Nikaya. All these constitute the Sutta .
Pitaka.
The seven books beginning with Dharnmasa1iga~i'i form the
Abhidhamma Pitaka.
[19] Herein-
Beca·use it shows precepts and principles,
And governs both the body and the tongue,
Therefore men call this Scripture Vinaya,
For so is Vinaya interpreted.
By ' principles ' in this verse are meant the methods of the
fivefold Patimokkha ordinance, of the seven classes of offence
beginning with the Parajika of the Mii.tika and of the Vi-
bhaiiga. · By ' precepts ' are meant the methods of the
additional enactments, resulting in the strengthening or the
relaxing of the observance of original ordinances. It also
regulates the body and the tongue by restraining them from
transgression. Therefore on accou11t of its principles and
precepts and its regulation of the b,ody and the tongue,
it is called Vinaya.
1 Cf. p. 32.
24 The Expositor
Hence it has been said to facilitate the study of the word-
definition:
Because it shows precepts and principles,
And governs both the body and the tongue,
Therefore men call this Scripture V inaya,
For so is Vinaya interpreted.
Further:
This Scripture shows, e'Cpresses,fructifies,
Yields, guards the Good, and is unto the wise
A plumb-line; therefore Sutta1 is its name.
For it shows what is good for the good of self and others.
It is well expressed to suit the wishes of the audience. It has
been said that it fructifies the Good, as crops fructify their
fruit; that it yields the Good as a cow yields milk; and that
it well protects and guards the Good. It is a measure to the
wise as the plumb-line is to carpenters. And just as flower.;
strung together are not scattered nor destroyed, so the Good
strung together by it does not perish. Hence it has been said,
to facil.i tate the study of the word-definition:
2 <;lf. :fl· 3.
I ntroditctory Discour8e 25
characterized 1 nights,' it expres.ses proper attributes. In such
sentences as,' king qf kings 2 and conqueror of men,' it expre.~ses
reverence. In such sentences as, 'He is able to master the
Abhidhamm(J, and Abhivinaya, ' 3 it-expresses di:fferentiation;
the sentence, that is to say, means, 'He is able to master the
Dhamma and the Vinaya without confusing either with the
other.' In such phrases as, 'with surpassing 4 beauty,' it
expresses worth. In the sentence, ' He develops the means for
rebirth in the RU.pa-world ;5 he lives . di:ffusing one quarter
of the globe with thoughts of love,' 6 things capable of growth
are referred to. In such phrases as, 'visible object, audible
object,' things of proper attributes are referred to, because
they are characterized as objects, etc. And things to be
revered are referred to in such phrases as, ' things pertaining
to students, things pertaining to adepts, and things trans-
.c endental.' In such phrases as, ' this is touch, that is feeling,
etc.,' things distinguishable as to their nature are referred to.
And things of surpassing worth are referred to in such phrases
as, 'states sublime, states immeasurable, states incomparable.'
Hence it has been said to facilitate the study of the word-
definition :
Because this book shows thing.~ that su.ffer growth, ... etc.
' Pitaka ' is used in the sense of ' study ' in such sentences
as, 'L~t us not [value doctrines] by proficiency7 in the Pitaka.'
And it is used in the sense of a ' basket ' in such sentences as,
'as if a man were to t'ake a spade and basket and go .... ' 8
i Abhilakkhita.
2 Rajabhirii.jii.. Sutta-Nipiita, ver. 553. 3 Vin. i. 64.
4 Abhikkantena. Of. Sa1J1y~itta i, 1, etc. 6 Dhs. § 160.
6 D'igha i. 250, etc. 7 . A. i. 189.
.8 Majjhima i. 127:
26 The Expositor
_Wherefore,
.1.: The Anutika adds, that ' dhamma ' is the original arrangement of
words (saddappabandho) to be studied and understood with the help of
various meanings given to them; that 'desanii.' is the sub3equent
preaching of those words for the underatanding of others.
· 2 Vibhanga 293.
· 3 Cf. Ledi, as quotsd in Points of Controversy 380.
* Abhiliipo.
4 The literal meaning of pxfivdha.-Ed.
Ii Abhisamayo. Cf. Sum. Vil. i. 32.
, pativedha has been taken in the active sense.
6 In .the first sense_
[25J How are the five Nikayas grouped ? The entire words
of the Buddha are divided into D~gha Nikaya, Majjhima
Nikaya, Sarp,yutta, Anguttara, and Khuddaka Nikiiyas.
1 One wholives for his own good, one who lives for the good of others,
one who lives neither for his own nor others' good, one who lives both
for his own and others' good. D. iii. 232; M. i .. 341; A. ii. 205. This is
said by the Buddha as a conventional truth. Not knowing it in the
ultimate sense he gets the wrong idea. Discussed in Points of Contra·
versy, p. 16.-'-Ed.
2 Or, 'owing to his wrong nature or conduct,' says the Siiratt/w,dipani,,
to Seyyasaka. ·
38 The Expositor ·
such introductions, and yet they were spoke1i. by the Buddha. '1
Furthermore he should be told, ' 0 wise one, this Abhidhamma
. is the province ·of the Buddhas, not of others; the descent of
the Buddhas, their birth, their attainment of perfect wisdom,
their turning of the Wheel of the Law, [30] their performance
of the Twin Miracle, their visit to the devas, 2 their preaching
in the deva-world, and their descent therefrom are all manifest.
It would be unreasonable to steal the Treasure-elephant, or
horse of the universal Monarch and yoke it to a cart and drive
about, or the Treasure-Wheel and fix it to a hay cart and drive
about, or to use the Treasure-jewel capable of shedding light
to the distance of a yojana by putting it in a cotton basket
-and why? Because they are royal property. Even so
Abhidhamma is not the province of others; it is the province
of the Buddhas only. · Such a discourse as the Abhidhamma
can be taught by them only; for their descent is manifest
. . . likewise their return from the deva-wo:dd. There is,
0 wise one, no need for an introduction to Abhidhamma.'
When this is so stated, the heterodox opponent wou}d be
unable to adduce an illustration in support of his cause.
'fhe Elder Tissabhiiti, resident at the Central Park, wishing
to show that the place of the Great Enlightenment3 is an
introduction to Abhidhamma, quoted the Pqdesavihiirasutta
- ' Bhikkhus, by whatever mode of life I lived after I first
attained Buddhahood, I have [these two weeks] lived by that
mode of living.' 4 This he expanded: There are ten positions:
of the aggregates, the field of sense, the elements, the Truths,
·the controlling powers, the causal signs, applications of mind-
fulness, jhana, mind, and states. Of these the Teacher at
the foot of the great Wisdom Tree intuited the Jve aggre- .
gates fully; for three months he lived only by way of the
1 The double negative na • • • na agrees with the reading in the
Ma7Jid'tpa. Some raad 'atthi, na ca tiini,' etc.-' they have introduc-
tions and wera not spoken by the Buddha.'
2 Read tidivokkam?, so explained in the Y ojanii. q£. Dhammapada
Commentary, iii. 216. ·
3 The Anufikii t:J.kes ' mahiibodhinidiino ' to be ' pa~ivedhabhumi,'
•th1 place of intuition, and the Yojanii, the Wisdom Tree .
. ' Sa~nyuUa. v 12.
I ntrod'ltcfiory Discourse 39
aggregate of feeling. 1 He intuited the twelve sense-organs
and the eighteen elements fully; for three months he lived only,
by way of feeling, in tp.e field and in the element of mental
presentations. He intuited the four Truths fully; for three
months he lived only by way of feeling in the Truth of Ill. He
intuited the twenty-two controlling faculties fully; for three
months he lived only by way of the five emotional indriyas: 2
He fully intuited the. chain3 of the causal genesis; for three
months he lived by way o; feeling with touch as its cause. He
intuited the four applications in mindfulness fully; for three
months he lived only by way of feeling to which mindfulness
was intensely applied. [31] He intuited the four Jhanas fully;
for three months he lived only by way of feeling among the
factors of Jhana. He intuited mind fully; for three months
he lived by way of feeling mind only. He intuited (other)
states fully; for three months he lived only by way of (one
or other of) the triplet of feeling. 4 Thus the Elder set forth
an introduction to Abhidhamma by means of the Padesa-
viharasutta.
The Elder Sumanadeva, resident in a village, while trans-
lating the Scriptures5 at the base of the Brazen Palace, thought:
'This heterodox believer, who does not know the introduction
(nidana) to Abhidhamma, is just like one crying (helpless)
with uplifted arms in the forest, or like one who has filed a
lawsuit without witness.' 6 And in order to show the intro-
duction he said,' At one time the Blessed One lived among the
1 S. Z. Aung comments on this: I.e., the Buddha lived his thoughts.
4 Good, bad, indifferent. 'It wiU be noticed that the feeling by which
the Buddha lived his thoughts is only a part (padesa) of the whole of the
·object intuitedin each case.'-S. Z. Aung.
0 I.e., Abhidhamma and the Commentaries. So Pyi (reading pari-
for pavattento). Ariyii.lailkara interprets: 'reciting the Dhamma, to
wit, sila,' etc. .
6 Instead of appeali1ig to us, who can bear testimony to Abhidhamma
having an introduction.-Tr.
40 The Expositor
gods on the Pai:i-Q.ukambala rock at the foot of the Paric-:
chattaka tree in Tavati~sa. Then the Blessed One taught
Abhidhamma to the Tavati~sa gods thus: ' moral, immoral,
and unmoral states of consciousness,' etc. 1
Whereas in the .Sutta discourses there is but one intro-
duction, in Abhidhamma there are two: one on the Career
and its Goal, and.one on the teaching. Of .these the former
comprises the events froni the time of Dipankara of the
Ten Powers up to the time of attaining the throne under
the Wisdom Tree; the latter comprises the events between
the last mentioned and the time of turning the Wheel of
the Dhamma. Thus for proficiency in the introduction to
Abhidhamma, which has both of these, the following questions
should.beasked: I. Fromwhich source hasthis Abhidhamma
originated ? 2. Where has it matured ? 3. Where, 4. when,
and 5. by whom was it mastered ? 6. Where, 7. when, and
8. by whom was it studied? 9. Where, 10. for whose benefit,
and 11. for what Jll!!POSe was it taught ? 12. By whom was
it accepted 1 13. Who are learning it ? 14. 'Who have learnt
it 1 15. Who know it by heart? 16. Whose word is it?
And 17. by whom has it been handed down?
The reply to these is: 1. Faith which urges to enlighten-
ment was the source. 2. In the five hundred and fifty
Jatakas. 3. At the foot of the Wisdom· Tree. 4. On the
foll-moonday of Visakha. 5. By the omniscient Buddha.
6. At the foot of the Wisdom Tree. [32] 7. During the
seven days spent at the Jewel House. 8. By the omniscient
Buddha. 9. Among the Tavati~sa devas. 10. Of the devas.
11. For release from the four Floods. 12. By the devas~
13. Probationers and good worldlings. 14. Saints fo:~e from
the Intoxicants. 15. Those who lay it to heart. 16. Of the
Blessed the Arahant, the Buddha Supreme. 17. By the un•
broken line of teachers. It was conveyed up till the time of
the third Council by the Elders Sariputta, Bhaddaji, Sobhita,
Piyajali, Piyapala, Piyadassi, Kosiyaputta, Siggava, Sandeha,
Moggaliputta, Visudatta, Dhammiya, 2 Dasaka, Sonaka,
Revata, and others. After that, it was conveyed by ~ sur,:~es-
1 Dhs. Table of Contents. 2 Or Dhammika-Pyi.
Introductory Discourse 41
sion of their pupils. Thus in India it has been conveyed by
an unbroken line of teachers. And to this island of Ceylon
subsequently came Mahinda, Iddhiya/ Uttiya,2 Bhaddanama,
and Sambala; These greatly wise ones brought it to this
island from India, and thenceforward till to-day it has been
conveyed by the line of tealhers known as their pupils. Of
Abhidhamma thus ·conveyed, the introduction of the Career
and the Goal, from the time of Dipaitkara of.the Ten Powers
till the attainment · of the throne under the Wisdom Tree,
and the introduction of the Teaching till the turning of the
Wheel of the Law will be clear from the tradition:
(Here follows the Durenidana of the Jiitaka Commentary,
edited by Fam1boll, vol. i., pp. 2-47, and translated by Rhys
Davids, Buddhist Birth Stories, pp. 2-58.)
There in.TU.Sita hP- surpassed other spirits in ten attributes;
he enjoyed celestial pleasure till the end of life [33] for
fifty-seven kotis and sixty thousand years by human· calcula-
tion. The spirits on being informed3 that he was to come to
the end of his life among them in seven days, because of the
manifestation of the five portents-namely, the clothes get
soiled, the flowers fade, 4 sweat exudes from the armpits,
the body becomes uncomely, the spirit cannot remain in
his seat-became agitated at the thought 'how empty ·our
heavens will become !' They knew that the Great Being had
fulfilled the perfections, and they thought: ' If he should get
the Buddhahood now by taking birth in the world of men,
then men who do meritorious deeds will pass away, and instead
of going out to another world of spirits, will fill our world of
spirits.'
(So the Buddha said to Sariputta) :
When I in Tusita abode was ealled
Santus1'.ta, from all the myriad worlds
They came to me with suppliooting hands
1 Or !Hiya-Pyi. 2 Or UHiya-Pyi ..
3 PyI supplies 'vattabbe' aft~r
'piipU'l_iissati ti.'
' They get these clothes and flowera at their rebirth owing to the
rJsult of.their Kamma.-Yojana.
42 The Expositor
Saying~· Great Hera, now thy time is come.
Enter the womb, and know the Deathless Path,
Bringing salvation imto gods and men.'
Thus requested to be the Buddha, he made the five great
observations as to the time, island; locality, family, and life-
term of his (future) mother. His resolution having been made,
he passed away from Tusita and was reborn in the family
of Sakya rajahs; and there in due course reached the prime
of life without ever falling off from the full enjoyment of
his splendid glory.
The details of his life during this interval should be gathered
from such Sutta passages as: 'In the meantime, 0 Ananda,_
the Bodhisat: mindful and knowing, passed away from Tusita
heaven and descended into his mother's womb,'1 and so on, ·
as well as from their commentaries. Enjoying the glory of
kingship comparable to that .of the gods in the three palaces
suitable respectively for the three seasons, one day, when he
went out ·to disport himself in the garden, he saw one after
another three divine messengers in the form of .an old man,
a sick man, and a dead man. He became greatly agitated and
·turned back: But at the fourth time he saw a monk, and took
a fancy to monkhood, thinking, ' It is good to be a monk.'
,He then proceeded to the garden, spent the day there; and,
seated on the bank of the lucky lotus-pond and dressed by the
god Vissakamma, who came in the guise of a barber, [34] he
heard , the news of Rahula-Bhadda's birth. He conceived a
great paternal affection for hiR son and, thinking that he would
cut the bond before it grew stronger, entered the city in the
evening.
' Does not thai mother bear a tranquil lieart,
Does not that :fat her bear a tranquil heart,
DoM not that spouse, to whom is such a lord?'
Hearing this verse sung by Kisiigotami, .daughter to his
aunt,2 he took off from his neck a necklace of pearls worth a
hundred thousand and sent it to her .saying: ' She has declared
the path of tranquillity to me.' He entered his own mansion,
I Majjhima iii. 119. 2 Pyi takes pituccha- to mea.ir ' uncle.'
I ntrod1lctory D{scourse 43
and seated on .a glorious couch he saw the physical change
that had come over the ·actresses during sleep. Disgusted at
heart he · woke up Channa, had his horse Kanthaka brought
round, mounted it; and surrounded by spirits from the myriad
world-systems went out with Channa on the Great Renuncia-
tion. During the remainder of that night he passed the three
great kingdoms,1 became a monk on the banks of the river
Anoma, went in due course to Rajagaha. There after going
round for alms, while seated in a cave at Mount Pal).Q.ava,
he was offered the kingdom by the king of Magadha, and
rejected the offer. However, he gave his promise to the king
that he would visit the kingdom aft_!lr he had attained
ommscience. He . next approached .A~ara and Kalii.ma-
.Uddaka. Dissatisfied with the special attainments acquired
from them, he practised the mighty efl;orts for six years.
On the full-moon day of Visakha,, early in the morning
he ate the meal offered by Sujata in the suburban village
of Senani, floated the golden bowl in the River Nerai'ijar'a,
passed the day in various attainments in the dense Great
Forest on the bank of the rivet, and in the evening, taking
-the eight handfuls of grass offered by the goatherd, Sotthiya,
he ascended the consecrated thro11e under the Wisdom Tree
the ·while his praise$ were sung by Kala, the Naga king,
and spread the grass, resolving: ' As long as my mind is not
released from.the intoxicants through the absence of grasping,
I will not change my seat.' And he sat facing the East and,
before sunset, dispersed Mara's forces~ In the :first watch
of the night he won insight into former existences, in the
middle watch insight into b.lrths and deaths, and .at the end
of the third watch intuited omniscience, adorned with all
the qualities of a Buddha, suoh as the Ten Powers, the
Four Confidences, [35] and arrived at the ocean of this
Abhidhamma method.
· This should be considered ·as the introduction to Abhi-
dhamnia which tells 0£ the Career and the Goal.
He having thus attained Ab'hidhamma spent seven days
in a singl~ sitting posture; seven days i~ conteinplating
1• Viz.. K.apilavatthu, Devadahx, KcHiya:'-'--Ariytilankiira.
44 The Expositor
the throne 0£ wisdom without. blinking his eyes; seven
days in walking to and fro; and in the fourth week he
contemplated the self.acquired Abhidhafuma.1 He spent
another three weeks at the goatherds' (banyan) tree, the
Mucalinda tree; and the Rajayatana tree. 2 During the eighth
week he sat at the foot 0£ the goatherds' banyan tree.. · Re-
flecting on the profundity 0£ the Dhamma, he was reluctant to
preach it; but when entreated to do so by Sahampati, who
came witli a retinue 0£ Mahabrahmas from the myriad
world-systems, he surveyed the world with the Buddha's eye;
and to comply with the wish 0£ Mahabrahma looked out for
disciples, asking to himself . ' To whom shall I first preach the
Dhamma 1' He discerned thatA!ara and Uddaka were dead,
but remembering the great services of the group 0£ five monks,
he rose from his seat and went to Kasi-town. lle fell in on the
way with Upaka the wanderer, with whom he conversed, and
on the foll-moon day 0£ Asa!hi he reached the abode of the
group 0£ five monks at the Deer Park at Isipataua. He con-
vinced them (of his own Buddhahood), who were using a term
0£ address 3 unbefitting his new position, and turni~g the Wheel
0£ the Dhamma he gave to them, headed by the Elder Alliia-
ko~~aiiiia, and to the eighteen myriads 0£ Brahmas, the
nectar of the Deathless. Thus the introduction to Abhi'-
dhamma on the Teaching should be understood as leading
up to the turning 0£ the Wheel of the Dhamma.
This is the abstract. The detailed account should be under-
stood from Suttas like Ariyapariyesana and Pabbajja4 with
their commentaries.
These introductions to Abhidhamma on Career and Teach·
ing may be divided into three periods according as the events
are distant, not very distant, and proximate. Of these the
Distant introduction should be understood as comprising
events from Dipalikara till the Tusita abode. From the Tusita
abode to the foot 0£ the Wisdom Tree is the Near introduction.
i I.e., philosophy acquired through intuition.-Tr.
2 The Kingstead Tree. So called because it is supposed to have been
the residence of a king of fairies.
a .Avuso. • MajjMma i. 160 ff.; Sutta·Nipiita, ver.. 405.24.
I ntroditctory Discourse 45
Such a verbal introduction as> 'At one time the Blessed One
lived among the Tavati~sa devas on the Pa:µQ.ukambala stone
at the foot of the Paricchattaka tree. There the Blessed One
related the Abhidhamma discourse to the Tavati~sa devas ' -
is the Proximate introduction.
This is the Introductory Discourse.
BOOK I '
RISINGS . OF CONSCIOUSNESS
CHAPTER I
THE TRIPLETS
[36] Now has arrived the opportunity of discoursing on
Abhidhamma according to the agreement made (in the
Introductory verse):
'Give ear obediently, while I expound
The Abkidhamma-lore, for it is hard
To hear such discourse as ye now may hear.'
Now the venerable Abrudhamma consists of seven books
beginning with Dhammasanga_'J'f'i. This book has four divisions:
risings of Consciousness, -and the rest. The division on
risings _of Consciousness is twofold: Table of contents and
Classification of terms. Of these, the table of contents comes
first and is divided into the table of triplets and the table of
couplets. Of these, the table of triplets comes first ·and the
triplet headed by moral states is the first therein. In the
triplet headed by moral states, the words ' moral states ' are
the first. Hence.
Ye faithful, with devout and single mind
This subtle Abhidhamma discourse hear,
· Thus it begins:
The triplet of 4 moral states, immoral states, unmoral
states ' 1 is named the moral triplet after the opening
1 Dhs. p. 1.
46
Triplets in the M iitikii 47
se_:t;l,tence, The triplet-of 'states associated with pleasurable
feeling, states associated with painful feeling, states associated
with feeling neither pleasurable nor painful,' is n~med the
triplet of feeling after the word ' feeling,' common to all the
thr~e members. Thus the names of all the triplets and ·
couplets should be understood from either the first term, or
the te;rm common to all the members of each.
All.these triplets and_couplets have been marked off into
fifteen divisions~ne triplet and fourteen couplets.1 Six
couplets beginning with that of ' states which are conditions,
states which are not conditions' may be called theCondition-
group, because they stand together like the pericarp of a
flower, or.a bunch of flowers, by virtue of mutual connection
both in text and sense. Next, seven other couplets, beginrnng
with that of' states with causal relations, states without causal
i:elatio:t;lS,'. are not so mutually connected, [37] and are to be
understood as the Lesser Intermediate couplets, because they
!}.re 1frm,ply selected as ordinary couplets and placed severally
among .1 Groups,' and because they are less than the Greater
Intermediate ones.
Then the Intoxicant-group (is to be understood) by virtue
of six couplets beginning with that of Intoxicants. Similarly
with the Fetter-group (which is to be understood) by virtue
of the couplet of the Fetters, etc.
And similarly the Knot-group, 2 the Flood-group, the Bond-
group, the Hindrance-group are to be understood by virtue
oLthe couplets of the Knots, the Floods, the Bonds, and the
Hindrances.
The .Reversion-group is to be understood by virtue of five
couplets beginning with that of reversion.3 Thus altogether
seven groups should be _understood.
Further on come the fourteen Greater Intermediate couplets
beginning with that of ' States with object.'
Next follows the Grasping-group of six couplets beginning
with th.a t of grasping. · ·
1 Dhs. pp. 2-8.
~ Gantha. In B.P.E.: 'The Group of the Ties.'
a Parimasa. In B.P.E : ' The Group on Contagion.'
48 Ri~sings of Com~cio'ltsness
' They know not bliss who see not N andana ' 6 -
9 From the formula for Fourth Jhana; Cf., e.g., Dhs. § 165.
1 I.e., at 'death.' When many acts having such result3 ara done,
that only which is strongest gives the result, and not the rest, which are
ineffective.-Tikli. ·· ·
60 Risings of Gon8ciousness
means' having the dominance of the Path by reas_on of over-
whelming (the dominated).'
In the triplet of 'Arisen,' this word means uprisen or
happened, i.e., having reached (a state) from the nascent
up till the cessant instant. 'Not arisen' means not yet
appeared. 'Bound to arise' refers to states which will
inevitably arise as part of a completed cause.
In the triplet of ' Past,' this word means passed beyond
· (a) their own characteristics, or (b) the momentary states
beginning with the nascent instant. By ' iuture ' is meant
'has not yet reached those two conditions.' By ' present '
is meant ' uprisen in dependence upon this or that cause.'
In the immediately next triplet, 'their past object' means
'having a past object.' And the same with the remaining
two terms.
[46] In the triplet of 'Personal,' this word refers to states
which occur after making a locus of selves as though with the
understanding ' we shall consider or take things thmi existing
to be we ourselves.' The word 'personal' (ajjhatta) has a
fourfold content, namely, personal in field, in self-reference,
(just) personal,, personal in range.
In such sentences as, ' Ananda, mind should be well focussed
by that bhikkhu as ajjhatta, namely, only in that symbol of
concentration which has been practised before '1 ; ' inwardly
rapt (ajjhattarato) and concentrated' 2 ajjhatta means 'personal
in field.' In such passages as, ' He live~ contemplating
states, even among states which are pleasing as ajjhatta,' 3
ajjhatta means 'subjective.' In such passfl,ges as 'The
six ajjhattika sense-organs,' 4 ajjhatta means 'personal.'
In such passages as, 'This, Ananda, is the life fully
attained by the Tathagata, to wit, that he, by disregard-
ing all provocative signs and symbols, has reached th'e
ajjhatta Void and therein abides,' 5 aiJ'hatta means ' range'
in the sense of ' dominion.' The attainment of Fruition is
named the dominion of the Buddhas, but here the meaning
- -·- ··-·-·-------
1 Majjhima iii, 112. 2 Digha ii. 107. a Ibid. ii. 301.
• Pa[tisambhidamagga i. 122. 5 Majjhimaiii. 111.
Couplets in the Matikii 61
of • personal ' is intend_ed. Hence states occurring in one's
own continuity and pertainng to each individual are to be
understood as ' personal. •1
But states outside that personality, whether bound up with
the controlling faculties or not, are termed -' external.' The
third term is spoken by virtue of both.
The immediately following triplet refers to states occurring
in the act of attending to just these three kinds of states
(i.e., personal, external, externo-personal) as objects.
In the triplet of 'Visible,' states which arise together with
sight, i.e., visibility, are termed' visible.' States which arise
together with opposition called ' impact,'* are termed ' re-
acting.' Some states are termed' both visible and reacting.'
Unseen states are termed ' invisible.' Some invisible states
react as described. The third term is used in rejecting both,
. So far for the word-by-word commentary on the terms in
the table of contents of the triplets.
CHAPTER II
THE COUPLETS
IN the table of contents of the couplets we shall comment on
those words which have not been found in the triplets.
First and foremost, in the condition-group,2 hetu-dhamma
(or hetu dhamma) are states called [special] conditions in the
sense of roots. [ 47] The term ' non-condition ' is used in
1 'We, who are but parts existing in such a unique manner by way
CHAPTER III
SUTTA PHRASES
IN the couplets drawn from the Suttas,1 states which by virtue
of association pertain .to wisdom are termed ' partaking of
wisdom,' also because they arise as parts and portions of
wisdom. Herein eight modes of wisdom, viz., knowledge of
insight, potency of the will-power, the six kinds of super-
knowledge, belong to wisdom. [51] In the latter sense any
one of these eight is wisdom, the rest being considered as parts
thereof. Thus wisdom and its associated parts should be
. understood as 'belonging to wisdom.' But here only states
associated with wisdom are meant.
States which by virtue of association belong to ignorance
are termed ' belonging to ignorance '; also because they arise
as parts ·and portions of ignorance. Herein ignorance · is
fourfold: intellectual darkness concealing the Fact of Ill, its
origin, its cessation, and the Path leading to cessation.
By the first method, ' belonging to ignorance ' also includes
states associated with these four modes of ignorance. Any
one of these is ignorance, the others being considered as
' belonging to ignorance.' Thus it should be understood
that ignorance and states associated therewith ' belong to
ignorance.' But here in this couplet only the associated
states are meant.
Again, states, which from their powerlessness to overwhelm,
their inability to destroy, the darkness of the corruptions, are
like lightning flashes, are termed 'lightning-like.' States
~hich, from their ability to destroy the darkness of their
corruptions completely, are like the thunderbolt, are termed
' resembling the thunderbolt.'
States established in fools are termed ' foolish.' They are
so called figuratively after the customary name of ' fools,'
given to persons in whom they are established. From being
established in the wise, states are called ' wise.' They are so
called figuratively after the customary name of ' wise,' given
1 Dhs. p. 7.
Sutta Phrases in the M atika 69
to persons in whom they are established. Or, ' foolish ' from
producing folly, ' wise ' from producing wisdom.
By' black' is meant 'dark,' i.e., capable of causing absence
of brightness of mind. 'White' means' capable of causing
mental brilliance.' Or, because of being the cause of rebirth
in miserable planes, states are termed 'black'; and because of
being the cause of rebirth in happy abodes, states are termed
'white.'
States which [figuratively] burn both here and hereafter
are termed ' burning.' Those which do not so burn are
termed 'not burning.'
The three couplets beginning with the ' synonymous '
couplet have n<? difference whatsoever in meaning; the
difference is olliy in the letter. With mere words made their
bases, such , expressions as 'luck-bringing,' and 'wealth-
bringing,'1 etc., are termed' syno:r,tyms.'
' Etymology ' is the derivation of words expressed together
with the reason in word-definition as in the example, ' Bhik-
khus, sankharas are those states which compose what is
compound.' 2 The meanings of the derivation are termed
niruttipatha.
Terms, -signifying (one and the same idea) in various ways, .
e.g., takka, vitakka, sankappa, 3 are called 'expresaions.' The
meanings of expressions are term_ed pannattipatha. [52] Of
these three couplets, having uttered one couplet (not different
in sense from the other two) the motive in uttering the other
two should be understood from what has been said in the
Condition-group (p. 62).
In the mind and matter group, the term 'mind' (nama)
is applied to mental properties, because 'names' once given
to them are fixed, or because they bend (namanti) objects,
or because as objects they bend the mind unto themselves.
'Matter' is that which changes its state or condition.4 This
herein is the abstract; the detailed account will appear in the
chapter on the Summary.
1 Lit. luck-increasing. 2 Ea11;yutta iii. 87,
~ [.e., ca!Jing a single thing, viz., thought, by three names.
~ (Accordlng to heat or cold, etc.) Cf. op. cit. iii. 86.
70 Risings of Consciousness
Nescience of the Truths of III, etc. is termed ' ignorance.'
The wish to live is termed' craving for existence.' 1
The 'theories of becoming,' of ' eternalism,' ' non-becom-
ing ,'2 and 'annihilation' refer respectively to the fact of
renewed life, eternal life, extinction, an<! annihilation of life.
The process-theories of eternalism, annihilationism, infinity,
and finity refer respectively to the views that the soul and the
world are eternal, will be annihilated, are infinite, are finite.
The view concerned with the ultimate beginning [of things]
is termed ' the view of ultimate beginning.' The view con-
cerned with the ultimate end is analogous.
· . 'Unconscientiousness' is t:\le state of a person who is not
ashamed of doing shameful things; it is shamelessness in detail.
' Carelessness of blame ' is the state of a person who does not
fear what should be feared; it is reckles1:1~ess in detail. Con -
scientiousness and discretion are the opposites.
In' surliness,' etc., a man of conflicting views, who delights
in opposition, is devoid of regard for the faith and speaks
unpleasant words ia said to be' surly.' The act of such a man
is termed ' surly speech '; the state of such a man is te~med
' surliness.'
He who has evil friends, such as unbelievers, is termed ' in
evil friendship.' 'Suavity' and 'in good friendship' should
be understood as the opposite in sense to what has been said.
' The offences ' are the five and also the seven classes of
offence. ' Proficiency in dealing with the offences ' thus
declared and in the restoration from these offences [refer to
canonical rules] .
'Proficiency in attainments' is a name given to discernment
of the stages of ecstasy. 3 [53] 'Proficiency in emerging from
attainments ' is analogous.
' Proficiency in the elements,' . . . ' in attention,' ••. ' in
the field of sense,' . . . ' in causal genesis,' . . . ' in occasions '
refer respectively to. the eighteen elements, to ob::ervation
of the same, to the organs and objects of sense, to the twelve
Lit. 'craving to become.'-Ed.
1 2 Vibhava-di~thi.
~ Dhs. p. 8,
72 Risings of Conscioitsness
virtue is termed' moral depravity.' The failure of views called
erroneous opinion capable of aestroying right views is termed
' depravity of view.'
Perfection of moralityis termed 'moral perfection,' 1 because
the morality of one who delights in good deeds perfects or
accomplishes virtue. Knowledge which has resulted in
perfection of view is termed ' attainment 1 in theory.'
The purity of virtue, namely, virtue which has arrived at
a state of extraordinary purity, is termed 'moral purity.'
The insight which is capable of reaching purity, i.e., Nibbana,
is termed ' purity of view.' By the sayings :2 (a) ' But now
pure views,' as well as (b) 'the effort of one who has adequate
views,' is meant (a) the pure theory whic:ih knows that we are
owners of our kamma, etc.,3 and (b) the effort associated with
that knowledge referring to views adequate to the effort.
The term ' agitation ' 4 refers to fear arisen in connection
with birth, etc. The causes, namely, birth, etc., productive of
agitation, are termed ' occasions for agitation.' By ' the
proper effort of the agitated ' is meant his adequate exertions.
By' discontent in good states 'is meant want of content in the
accomplishment thereof. By ' non-retreat in effort ' is meant
the not stepping back, the not faltering in effort without
reaching Arahant8hip.
' Wisdom' (vijja) is so called because of knowing; ' emanci-
pation' is so called because of being free (from the corruptions).5
By ' knowledge in destruction ' is meant such knowledge
arising in the Ariyan Path as is capable of destroying the
corruptions. By ' knowledge in non-origination ' is meant
such knowledge in the Ariyan Fruition, arisen at the terminus
of the Path, as is capable of causing the non-origination of
the corruptions, destroyed by this and that Path.
This is the word-by-word commentary. on terms in the
Table of Contents.
1 Sampadi. B.P.E .: ' progress.'
2 Anguttara i. 95.
3 Majjhima iii. 203. 4 Anguttara ii. 115.
, 5 Or. from directing the mind unrestrainedly towards the objec~
~ Nibbana ),-Yojanif.
PART II-ANALYSIS OF· TERMS
CHAPTER I
OF THE MORAL 'l'RIPLET
Now in order to explain the differences in the states grouped
in the Table of Co:qtents already laid down as above, there
follows the classification of terms beginning with the question:
Which are the moral states ?1 The first [type of] moral
thought, experienced in the universe of sense, has been shown
by the words: ' When a sensuous moral thought occurs.' In
its exposition, first of all, [55] there are three main sections:
the determination of states, the summary, and 'emptiness.'
0£ these, the determination is twofold: outline and exposi-
tion. In the outline there are four divisions: question,
exposition of the occasions, outline of states, and conclusion.
Of these, 'which states are moral?' is the question. 'When
the sensuous . . . then ' is the exposition of the occasion.
'There is touch .· .. non-distraction' is the outline of
states. 1 On that occasion [these], or whatever other mental
states there may be, which have .arisen in dependence upon
(those expressly mentioned) :-these states are moral ' is
the conclusion.
Thus as to the first division, viz., the question: 'which are
moral states?' is a question for the purpose of explanation.·
To expand: Questions are fivefold: to show something not
seen before, to discuss what is already seen, to clear up doubts,
to discover opinion, to explain. And this is how they differ:
which is a question put to throw light on something not seen
before ? The question which is put for gaining knowledge, for
seeing, weighing, accornpiishing, perceiving, and revealing
some point which has not already been understood, seen,
t Dhs. § 1.
1a
74 Risings of Consciousness
weighed, accomplished, perceived, or revealed. What is a
question for discussion of views ~ The point has alfeady been
learnt, seen, weighed, accomplished, perceived, and revealed.
But the question is put in order to discuss with other wise
people. .What is a question to clear up doubts? When one
has come to misgivings, doubt, dubiety: ' Is it thus, is it not
thus, what is it, how is it ?' The question is put to remove
those doubts. What is a ·question to discover opinion ? The
Blessed One in order to discover the opinion of the bhikkhus
asks the question: 'What do you think, bhikkhus? Is
matter permanent or impermanent?' 'Impermanent, Jord.'
'And is that which is impermanent painful or pleasant?'
' Painful, [56] lord.' ' And is it proper to contemplate that
state which is impermanent, painful, and reversible as " ThiR
is mine, this am I, this is myself"?' 'Nay, lord.' 1 This is the
question to discover opinion. What is a question for purposes of
explanation ? The Blessed One asks the brethren a question
in order to explain: 'Bhikkhus, there are four applications in
mindfulness. Which are the four ?•2 This is the question for
purposes of explanation.
Of these, the first three questions do not arise in the case
of the Buddhas. And why ? Because for the Buddhas there
is nothing, whether conditioned in the three periods of time,
or unconditioned and out of time, that has not been known;
seen, weighed, accomplished, perceived and revealed. Hence
for them there is no question for the illuminating of what is not
seen. And there is no need for the Blessed One to d1scuss
what has been intuited by his own knowledge with another
monk or brahmin or spirit or Mara or Brahma. Hence there
can arise no· question for a comparison of views. Inasmuch as
the Blessed One is free from perplexity, has passed beyond
doubt, and in all things is devoid of misgivings, there can
arise for him no question to clear up doubts. But the other
two questions occur to the Blessed One. And of these, the
question: 'Which states.are moral?' should be understood as
having been asked for purposes of explanation.
1A.nguttara iv. 8.
gPts. ii. 106 (but in P. T.S. ed. abhisamaya~~ho is omittcd).-·.Ed.
a Anguttara iv. 227. Paa. of the Brethren 248, n, I.I
• Digha m. 276~ Anguttara ii. aa.
78 Risings of Oorisciousness
cedents ' and ' moment, or opportunity,' the following is the
explanation of the other meanings of the word: ' Time '
may be clearly shown as a notion abstracted by mere usage
from this or that (event). A collection of states such as' con-
tact,' etc. may be clearly explained as 'a group' or 'mass.'
To expand: Time is only a concept derived from this or that
phenomenon, such as (a) states expressed in such phrases as,
'temporal (aspect of) mind,' 'temporal (aspect of) matter';
(b) the phenomenal occur:rence expressed by such phrases as ·
'the past' and' the future'; (c) the phenomenal succession in
an organism expressed by ' the time of seed-germination '
and 'the time of sprouting '; [59] (d) the characteristic
marks of phenomena expressed by ' the time of genesis '
and 'the time of decay'; (e) the functions of phenomena
expressed by ' the time of feeling,' and 'the time of cognizing ';
(f) functions of beings expressed by 'the time of bathing '
and' the time of drinking '; (g) the modes of posture expressed
by 'the time of going' and 'the time of stopping'; (h) the
revolution of the moon, sun, etc., expressed by 'morning,
evening, day, and night'; or(i) the grouping of day-sand nights,
etc., into periods expressed by 'half-month,' 'month.' It
should be understood that this (abstract time) is a mere
concept, because it is not existing by its own nature.
The congeries of states such as contact, feeling, etc., is in
our text displayed as 'groups.' Samaya having thus been
shown to mean also ' time ' and ' group,' the other meaning
of 'condition ' is to be understood: By ' condition' is meant
'causal relation.' That there are several conditions may be
understood by way of their ' doors ' or relations. To expand:
In this connection a cause-in-relation is a condition. The
multiplicity of conditions may be understood from their doors
or relations. How so? The eye, object, light, attention, etc.,
are the many causes-in-relation of the sense of sight, etc.,
arising in the eye-door, etc. In the Great Book (the PaUhana)
twenty-four causal relations have been taught, to wit, relation
of condition, relat.ion of object, and so forth. Excepting the
causal relations of. resultants and post-existence, the rest are
causes•in-relation of moral states. All these two sets of
Analysis of Terms
rcauses-in-relation are here (i.e., in this connection) meant by
the term 'condition.' Thus the multiplicity of conditions
should be understood by way of their doors or relations.
·It should now be understood that these five meanings of
'·harmony of antecedents' and so forth are comprehended under
the word samaya. But why have all these five meanings
instead of any one of them been so comprehended ? Because
the term is used t.o show various distinct meaning'>. To
expan_d: Of these, samaya in the sense of 'harmony of
antecedents ' shows occurrence from many causes. By show-
ing this, the view that there is one single cause1 is contradicted.
By ' harmony of antecedents ' is meant the mutual contribu-
tion towards the production of a common result. Therefore
this also shows that there is no single agent. For when there
is a cause (adequate) in its own natul'e, 2 it is not fitting to
look about for another cause. Thus by showing the non-
existence of any one cause (the erroneous view) that pain
and pleasure are created by oneself3 is contradicted.
· Herein, it may be objected that the expression, 'it shows
the occurrence from .many causes,' is not proper. [60] And
why 1 Because causes which are not conditions when they
exist severally, would not b0come conditions when they act
in harmony. When every one of a hundred blind men cannot
see, it is impossible for all the hundred (collectively) to see.
This arg11mel}t is not unreasonable. (The answer is): Causes
are said to be in concord when they accomplish a result in
common, and not because of the mere combination of various
antecedents. . And the vision of the blind men is not .~ result
in common. Why 1 Because of their inability to see though
there may be a hundred of them. But vision by the eye, etc.,
is a result in common, because when the one exists, the other
arises in consequence. It is quite clear that though .:;tates
may be no causes when they are not in concord, they become
causes when they are in concord. This may be understood
1 Rii.pino.
88 Risings of Consciousness
loss, fame and d!sgrace, blame and praise, happinesa and
misery.
Further it has been said:
[66] From kamma andformform and perceptions come,
Perceptions differentiation cause
In things, as ' This .is woman,' ' This is man.' 1
By kamma the world moves, by kamma men
Live, and by kamma are all beings bound
As by its pin the rolling chariot wheel. 2
By kamma one attains glory and praise,
By kamma bondage, ruin, tyranny.
Knowing that kamma bears fruit manifold,
Why say ye, ' In the world no kamma is r 1
'0 lad, beings have kamma as their property, they are its
heirs, are originated by it, are its kin, are sheltered by it.
Kamma divides _beings into low and exalted.' 3 By this
capacity to produce a diversity of effects (in destiny) in a
manner detailed above is the diversity of the mind to. be
understood. For all variations are done by the mind only.
Because a thought, which has no opportU:nity4 (of maturing
its own effects) or which lacks the remaining conditions,5 does
not produce any of the divers effects, (only) the factors of
this manifold sentient organism6 effected by the (e:ffectual)
thought have been declared. The mind is even more diverse
than these. Hence the Blessed One has said, ' Bhikkhus, I
see no other class so variegated as creatures of the animal
kingdom; even more variegated than those creatures, bhik-
khus, is the mind.'7 .
In the phrase 'is arisen,' 8 arisen (uppanna) has many
meanings, as ' existing,' etc. Of these, all that is endowed
.., ... · -· · - · - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - -
t Not tr.i,ced. 2 Siittn-Niplita., 654. 3 Majjhima iii. 203.
4, Owing to prohibition by some superior kamma, or because the
perfprmer has done it in some place or at some time where no result is
givetl,.-Tr.
5 Ttme, destiny, motive, etc.-Tr. 6 Ajj hattika.111.
ground, (b) keeping the two palrcs evenly together in contact, (c) raising
them to the forehead, (d) bowing or bending towards an object of
Analysis of Terms 97
adoration.he stands looking upwards [73] with rapture derived
from the contemplation of the Buddha. Having thus derived
rapture from the contemplatio~ of the Buddha by looking at
the shrine, wherever, subsequently, he may have gone and
seated himself in places [reserved] for night or day, the well~
·_decorated shrine seems to appear to his eye on reflection, as
it did actually at the time when he circumambulated it.
Thus, first of all, by previous sight, a visible object comes
into tlie ' avenue.'! Hearing the sound of one who with a
sweet voice lectures on the doctrine, or who with a sweet
voice is merely reciting or readinrr
• 0
the Text, wherever, subse-
quently, he sits thoughtful, the sermon expounded or the text
recited is represented at his mind-door, as if it came into the
avenue of his ear-door as when he listened and gave liis
approbation. Thus through previous hearing, the audible
object comes into the avenue. Getting a fragrant perfume
or flower he offers it with the scent as an object of mind
either in his seat or in a shrine; then wherever he after·
wards sits down thoughtful, the perfume is as if it came into
the avenue of the nose-door as at the time of making the
offering. '.['hus through previous smell the olfactory object
comes into the avenue. He enjoys an excellent meal in
common with his fellow-monks; subsequently wherev~r, on
getting inferior food, he reflects on his having enjoyed an
excellent meal on a certain previous occasion with his felldw-
monks, that sapid object is as though it came into tl1e avenue
of the tongue-door as at the time when he enjoyed it. Thus
the sapid object comes into the avenue through previous
experience. He enjoys a soft bed or stool or carpet or cover-
ing pleasant to the touch, and subsequently wherever he
feels a hard bed, and reflects that he has enjoyed a soft bed
a.d orat:on, (e) finally separating the palms and placing one on each side
of the head. If seated by (a) letting fall the two knees evenly together
on the ground, (b) letting fall the two elbows ewnly together on the
ground, (c) str.ot ching the two foraarms· and spraading the pnJms
out, (d) keeping them evenly together on the ground, (e) placingthehen.d
on the back of the two palms.- V inayiilankiira.
1 Apatha1!1. Cf. Vin. 'l.'e,x!s ii. 12; .~f. i; 190. Bud. Psy. 66.
98 Ri..sings of Consciousness
on a previous occasion, the tangible object comes into the
avenue, as it was actually felt at the time when he enjoyed that
pleasurable touch. Thus through· previous touch a blanket
as tangible object comes into the avenue. Thus in the mind~
door as such there is no function of contact with the sensory
organism. Through having been seen, heard, smelt, tasted,
and touched, these objects should be understood as coming
naturally into the avenue.
Now the following is another method of exposition, [74] not
mentioned in the (earlier) Commentaries, of the natural
representation of objects that have been seen, etc. First and
foremost, what is seen, heard, and connected with both-these
should be understood as i;uch. Things ' seen ' includes what
has been seized through the five doors; things ' heard' is what
has not been 'seen' directly, but what is learnt by hearsay
about the five sensibles. 1 An idea connected with both sources
of knowledge is termed ' connected with both.' Thus should
it be understood that by virtue of the former these objects (i.e.,
sensibles) come into the avenue of the mind-door. Herein the
representation of them has been described above in five ways.
But (as regards the latter class) some one hears that the figure
of the Buddha, born of superior merit, is like this and that,
that his voice is exceeding sweet, that the scent of certain
flowers in a certain place is very delightful, that the taste of
certain fruits in a certain place is very sweet, and that the
touch of certain coverings, etc., is very pleasant. From mere
hearsay, without actual contact with the sensory organs,
these sensibles come into the avenue of (or are represented at)
the ill.ind-door. Then to such an one consciousness (of that first
main type), having for its object that sight or sound described,
arises by virtue of faith; or consciousness of the same type with
that scent, etc., as its object, arises by virtue of a desire to
present such (flowers, fruits, or coverings described) to Ariyans,
or by virtue of moral approbation of their being offered by
others. Thus these five sensibles come into the avenue at the
1 These two fields might be randered by ' experience ' and 'infor ma·
tion.' Cf. Campendiuni of Phil. 37 .~Tr.
Analysis of Terms 99
mind-door through wh'.1-t is' heard.' Lastly, another person
has either seen or heard about those things mentioned. To
him the thought occurs .: 'Of such and such a figure will be
the Buddha who will arise in the future! In this way visible
objects, etc., come into the avenue at the mind-door by virtue
of their connection with things seen or heard, without actual
contact with the sensitive organism. Then to him conscious-
ness (of this first main type), with one or other of the five
sensibles as object, arises in the manner described above. Thus
it is to be understood that by virtue of the connection with
both (experience and information) objects of sight, etc., come
into the avenue at the mind-door. This is only a hint.
By virtue of (a) (blind) faith, (b) approved criticism, (c) ratio-
cination on aspects of things, (d) satisfaction at intuition into
any reality, etc., the coming into the avenue of visible objects,
etc., at the mind-door should be understood in detail. Inas-
much as these objects, which have been represented by faith,
criticism, logic, intuition, etc., are both real and unreal, this
.method has not been adopted in the Commentary. It should .
be understood that an apperceptional thought1 having any
· one of the objects arises through two doors in the manner de-
scribed. Thus the apperception of a visible object arises at the
eye-door and also at the mind-door. The same is the case with
apperceptions of sound, etc. Of these doors the apperception
of a visible object arising in the mind-door is of three kinds:
accomplished by charity, virtue, or culture. [75] Of these
again each is of three kinds: deed (body), word, and thought.
And the same with apperceptions of sound, etc.
Of these objects, this moral consciousness of the first main
type arises having as visible object a certain desirable,
pleasing, agreeable, and captivating colour as a sign of
. beauty in blue-green, yellow; red, or white flowers, raiment,
minerals, or metals. 'But is not this desirable object the
fundamental cause of greed 1 Ho~ then is this conscious-
ness good 1'-(an objector might ask). (The answer is):
It has become good by virtue of its being determined, bent,
CHAPTER I
DOOR OF AN ACT OF BODY
To explain the meaning of this _variableness of both kamma
and door [82], the Great Commentary sets out a discourse
on Doors (or Gates).
In this the following subject-heads, viz., the three kinds of
action (kamma), three doors of action, five kinds of conscious-
ness, five d_oors of consciousness, six kinds of contact, six doors
of contact, eight [modes of] non-restraint, eight doors of
!-Ion-restraint, eight [modes of] restraint, eight doors of
restraint, ten .courses of immoral acts, ten courses of moral
acts, have been laid down in the Table of Contents (Pt. I.).
Although the three actions are described first in that Table,
we may leave these till later and take the three doors of action
for classification. Which are the ' three doors of action '?
Door of an act of body, door of an act of speech, and door of
an act of thought.
In the expression' act of body,' body is fourfold: that which
is grasped at,1 that which is produced by food, by the caloric
order, by mind. Of these, eight material qualities produced
by kamma, namely, those beginning with the organ of sight
and ending with life-control, and the eight material qualities
produced by kamma, viz., the four elements, colour, odour,
taste and nourishing essence constitute the body as that which
has been' grasped at' (by desire, etc., attending the kamma in
question). These eight qualities born of food constitute the
body as produced by food; the same eight born of the caloric
order constitute the body as produced by heat; and the same
eight born of consciousness constitute the body as produced by
mind .
•1 Or "laid hold of" (upii.diQ.r.iaka-kityo). Seep. 55.
109
110 Risings of Consciousness .
.
Of these three doors, 'door of an act otbody' is not (the
aspect of) body as grasped at by kamma, nor as otherwise ·
produced. But among the eight qualities of body produced by
mind, one is (capacity of) iIJ,timation, and it is this that is meant
by' door of an act ofbody.' Concerning that door, it has been
said, ' Which quality of body is called body-intimation 1 It is
that particular quality of body which informs, intimates, or
communicates in a unique manner, and which aids, supports,
or strengthens the body of a person who, with: a moral or
immoral or unmoral thought, moves forward, or steps back,
looks straight ahead or obliquely, bends or extends his limbs.'1
To expand: When a thought, ' I will move forward or step
back' occurs, it.sets up bodily qualities (born of mind). Now
there are eight groups of these bodily qualities: the four
primaries: extension, cohesion, heat, mobility, and four
depending on these: colour, odour, taste, nutritive essence
(oja). Among these, mobility strengthens, supports, agitates,
moves forward or backward the coexisting physical body.
Now in a cognitive process of simple' adverting' (ofattention),
when the seven moments of apperception (iavana) are set up,
the first six cause to arise only such [83] mobility as can
strengthen and support the coexisting body, but cannot
move it. In consequence, however, of this work of the first six
moments, the seventh moment sets up mobility able both to
move the body forward and backward and to cause the act of
looking straight ahead or obliquely, 9£ bending and extending
the limbs. Hence there results an act of going or coming or. ·
both; (by repetition more than a thousand times) ·it enables us
to say that a man 'has gone a yojana, gone .a s far as ten
yojanas.' As when a cart is drawn by seven yok~s, the bul-
locks at the first yoke are able to bear the yoke but not to
turn the wheels. And the same with the bullocks yoked to
the second ... and sixth yokes. But by harnessing bullocks to
a seventh yoke a clever driver sitting in the forepart of the cart
takes the reins and urges the bullocks with the goad, beginning
from the foremost of all; then all the bullocks being of .
1 Dh8. § 636.
The Door of a Bodily Action 111
united ::ltrength steady the yoke, turn the wheels, draw the
cart, enabling us to say that it has gone ten or twenty yojanas; .
Thus the completeness of this process should be understood.
Now the body·produced by consciousness- -that is not' inti-
mation.' But there is a certain peculiar, uni_que mode of change
in the primaries when set up by mind, through which, as a con-
dition, mobility is able to strengthen, support and agitate the
coexistent bodj. This is intimation. It is not set up by
consc~ousness as are the eight qualities. But as has been said,
' From the decay and death of things that are impermanent,
etc., bhikkhus, decay and death is impermanent and con-
ditioned,' etc. ;1 so because of thecommunicablenessof qualities
set up by consciousness, intimation may also he said to.be pro-
duced by consciousness. Because it is a capacity of communi-
-!lating, it is called' intimation.' What does it communicate 1 A
certain wish communicable by an act of the body. If anyone
stands in the path of the eye, raises his hands or feet, shakes
his head or brow, the movements of his hands, etc. are visible.
Intimation, however, is not so visible; it is only knowabfo by
mind. For one sees by the eye a colour-surface moving by
virtue of the change of position in hands, etc. But by reflect-
ing on it as intimation, one knows it by mind-door-conscious-
ness, thus: 'I imagine that this man wishes me to do this or that
act.' . For just as during the hot season, where there is water
they tie the palm leaves, etc., on the top of a tree in a forest
saying,' By this sign men will know the existence here of water;'
-or on the door of a liquor-shop they raise a flag; [84] and just
as the wind striking the tree blows it about; and the fish dis-:-
turbing th~ water, bubbles appear on the surface; just as,
again, at the edges of the course where a great flood has been
are tangled grasses, leaves and rubbish, and thus in the
palm-leaves, in the flag, in the waving foliage, in the bubbles,
the grasses, the leaves, and the rubbish, even though they
see not the actual objects thought of, men know by mind
as follows: 'Here must be water, here liquor, thus the tree
must be struck by the wind, there must be fish in the water,
1 s. ii. 26.
112 Risings of Consciousness
the flood must have run its course overflowing t-0 this
extent,' even so intimation is not visible but knowable. One
sees with the eye only the colour-object moving by virtue
of ch~nge of position in hands,1 etc. But by reflecting on
intimation one knows it by knowing the wis4 thus: ' Methinks
he wishes me to do this or that act.'
And intimation is so called not only because of communicat-
ing, but also because of being communicated. Communication
by sign is· intelligible to others, even to the lower animals.
Wherever dogs, foxes, crows and cattle are assembled, and
when they see the gesture of striking, on a stick or a stone being .
seized, they know, 'He wishes to strike us' and flee helter-
skelter. There is a time when intimation is not manifest, the
object being separated by a wall, enclosure, etc. But though
not manifest at that moment to him, yet from its being mani-
fest to those who are in its presence it is called intimation.
When th.e body set up by mind moves, does the body set
up by the other three causes move or not 1 The latter moves
likewise, goes with the former, and invariably follows it. Just
as dry sticks, grass, etc., fallen in the fl.owing water go with t.he
water or stop with it, so should the complete process be under-
stood. Thus intimation among material qualities set up
by mind should be understood as a door of an act of body.
By volition manifest in that door one takes life, commits
thefts, commits adultery; or else refrains from life-taking, etc.;
this volition is said to be an act of body.
There is a heretical view, that body being the door, the
volition manifesting itself in. that door is an act of body,
which should be classed as moral or immoral. But .putting
this view asid~ unmoral acts should also be included, thus
making up the triplet.
Herein, as the city-gate stands in the place where it has been
made and does not move to and fro even one finger-breadth,
and people go about by that door, so while the' door' does not
.change place With another, action which arises in this or that
door does. ;Hence the Ancients say:
Acts passthrough rloors, not doors through doors; by doors
One may distinguish well these acts Jrom those.
The .Door of a Bodily Action 113
(85] Of these a ' door ' receives its name from the act and
vice versa. As the places where consciousness, etc., is set up,
are known as the ' door ' of consciousness, ' door ' of contact,
' door ' of non-restraint, ' door ' of restraint, so the place where
an act of body arises is known by the name of 'door-of a
bodily act.' And the same with the ' doors ' of speech and
thought.. As a fairy residing in this or that tree gets its name
from that tree, as the cotton-tree fairy, the butea-tree fairy,
tl;ie nimba-tree fairy, or the phandana fairy, so the place where
the bodily act arises gets its name of 'door of the bodily
act.' A:nd the same with acts of speech and thought.
Of these body is one thing and action another .. But from
being performed by the body it is called bodily act. Hence
the teachers of the Commentaries said:
Work by a needle done is needle-work;
Needle and n,eedle-work are things distinct.
Work by a hatchet done is hatchet-work,:
Hatchet and hatchet-work are things distinct.
Work that by man is done is called man's work;
The man and the man's work are things distinct.
An act by body done is body-act;
Body and body-act are things distinct.
' '
(It ·may be objected that) if this is so, then the doors are
not rightly determined, nor the acts. How ? In body-
intimation, in that it has been said,
'Acts pqss through doors, . . •1
CHAPTER II
DOOR OF AN ACT OF SPEECH
IN this theory of the speech-door, speech may be considered
under the . three aspects of volition, abstinence and sound.
For instance, ' words endowed with four factors, 0 .bhikkhus,
are well-spoken, not ill-spoken, faultless and unblamed by the
wise ' 2 -here speech is voluntary. 'Avoidance of and absti-
nence from the fourfold misconduct in speech . . . is called
right spe·ech ' 3 -this is speech by way of abstinence. ' Speech,
voice, enunciation, utterance, noise, making noises, speech,
articulate speech-sounds ' 4-this is speech as sound. Now
of these, ' door of an act of speech ' is not the name of
speech by way of volition nor of abstinence. But there is a
certain intimation accompanying sounds (or words):-this is
the door of an act of speech. Concerning this it is said: ' Which
is that which is called intimation by speech r That speech,
voice, enunciation, utterance, noise, making noises, _speech,
1 ·A village is called Brahmin .village, though there are other people
CHAPTER III
DOOR OF AN ACT OF THOUGHT
I:N the discourse on the door of an act of thought, mind is
considered as fourfold by way of the planes of life.
Of these, the plane of sensuous consciousness is of fifty-four
classes; that pertaining to · the universe of attenuated matter
is of fifteen classes; that pertaining to the immaterial universe
is of twelve classes; the transcendental is of eight classes-in
all eighty-nine.1
Of these·, it cannot be said that what is called mind is not
mind-door, any more than it can be said that what is ·volition
is not kamma. Just as even the volition associated with the
fivefold cognition (i.e., of the five external senses) has been
shown in the Great Book to be kamma, even so it should
not be said that mind is not mind-door.
Here a question might be asked: what does this (mind-)
kamma do ·1 It harmonizes, arranges, co-ordinates, thinks,
stimulates and decides. This being so, what does the volition
of the fivefold external sense harmonize, arrange, [88] co-ordi-
CHAPTER rv ·
DISCOURSE ON KAMMA (VOLUNTARY ACTION)
THEY (i.e., the three doors of action) have been shown without
first considering the three kammas.1 We now, making a be- ·-
ginning with these three kammas, shall give a detailed account
of the table of contents of the remaining portion of the dis·
course on the doors.
Th_ese are the three kammas: bodily kamma, vocal kamma,
mental kamma. And what is this kamma ? Volition, as
well as some states associated therewith. The following Suttas·
illustrate that volition is a state of kamma. 'I declare,
·bhikkhus, that volition is karnrna. Having willed, one acts
by body, speech and thought.' 2 ' When, Ananda, there is
bodily action, speech or thought, pleasure and pain to the
self arise by reason of volition capable of causing an
act, speech or thought.' 3 ' Bhikkbus, threefold volition
capable of causing an act constitutes the bodily karnrna,
immoral, increasing pain and having a painful result; fourfold
volition capable of causing speech, bhikkhus, constitutes the
- - - -- - - - -- -
1 Cf. above, p. 109. 2 A . iii. 415.
a 8. ii. 39 /.; A. ii. 157 /.
118 Risings of Consciousness
vocal kamma, immoral, etc.; bhikkhus, threefold volition
capable 0£ causing thought constitutes the mental kamma,
immoral,' etc. 1 Similarly with the bodily, vocal or mental
kamma which is moral, increasing pain and having a pleasur'-
able result.2 ' If, Ananda, this futile man Samiddhi, on
being questioned, ,were to reply to the Wanderer, Pataliputta,
" Friend Pataliputta, one who has done a voluntary and
pleasurable action by body, speech and thought, experiences
pleasure, one who has done a . ; . pain-bringing . . . a . . .
neutral action . . . experiences neither pleasure nor pain,"
then the futile man Samiddhi would reply rightly to the
Wanderer Pataliputta, 0 Ananda,3 -these are the Suttas
which show first of all that volition is kamma.' ·
And that states associated with volition are also kamma
has been shown by the fourfold classification of kamma.
It has been said, ' Bhikkhus, there are four, [89] which I have
realized and understood by my own higher (intuitive) know-
ledge. Which are the four 1 There is, bhikkhus, kamma
which is impure and productive of impurity; there is, bhikkhus,
kamma which is pure and prod~ctive of purity; there is
bhikkhus, kamma which is both impure and pure, and pro-
ductive of both impurity and purity; there is, bhikkhus,
kamma which is neither impure nor pure1 productive of neither
impurity nor purity, and which, though itself kamma, conduces
to the destruction of kammas. And which, bhikkhus, is
kamma which is neither impure nor pure, and is productive
of neither impurity nor purity ? How does it, though itself
kamma, lead to the destruction of kammas ? The seven factors
of wisdom:-mindfulness, etc., may be said to be kamma,
which, being neither impure nor pure, productive of neither
impurity nor purity, lead to the destruction of kammas.'
The same is repeated substituting the Ariyan eightfold path
for the seven factors of wisdom.4 Thus these fifteen states,
factors of wisdom and of the Path, have been shown by the
fourfold classification of kamma.
_ The twenty-one states, viz., these fifteen together with
1 Not traced. 2 Sentence omitted in P.T.S. ed.
3 Maijhima, iii. 208 f. ~ Anguttara, ii. 230 f.
Discourse on Kamma 119
the six:--covetousness, ill-will, wrong view, non-covetousness,
good-will, right view-should be understood as states
associated with volition.
Of these, the transcendental Path may be included in, and
classified under, the three forms of kamma (bodily, vocal,
mental). To expand: Restraint of the wickedness of trans-
gression by body should be understood as bodily; restraint
of the wickedness of transgression in speech, as vocal. Thus
right act is bodily kamma and right speech is vocal kamma.
When this pair is taken, right liVing, because it consists of
each, is included. Restraint of the wickedness of transgression
in thought is mental. This act of thought is fivefold by
virtue of (right) view, intention, exertion, mindfulness and
concentration. Thus the transcendental Path, if classified,
is classifiable under the three forms of kamma. Here comes
the subject of inclusion under doors. There is such a thing
as kamma which has not run its full course, though movements
. of bodily and vocal organs may have taken place and though
it is generated at the mind-door. [90] Such kammas have
been included under doors. Here is an illustration:
He who, thinking' I will go a-hunting deer,' gets his bow
ready, twists1 the bow:strings, sharpens his spear, eats his
meal, arra~ges his garments-so far he has moved his bodily
limbs. After heh.as roamed the forest the whole day he does
not get even a hare or a cat. Does this amount to immoral
bodily kamma or not 1 It does not. And why 1 :Wrom its
not-having reached the full course of action. It should be
understood as a mere misconduct of the body. And the saDJ.e
with such motives for catching fish, etc.
In the case of vocal doors, he gives an order, ' I will go
a-hunting; quickly get my bow ready and the rest.' And· as
before, he does not get anything in the forest. In this case,
though there is a movement of the vocal organs, it does not
amount to bodily kamma from not hav!ng run through the full
course of action. - [Thus it should be understood as a mere
misconduct in speech. ]2
CHAPTER V
DISCOURSE ON COURSES OF IMMORAL ACTION
Now in the terms (a) 'five external senses,' (b) 'five sense-
doors,' (a) is consciousness on occasion of seeing, hearing,
smelling, tasting, touching; (b) are the doors of sight, hearing,
.smell, taste, touch~ The volition which arises by virtue of
these five doors should be understood as .a n act neither of body
nor of speech, but of thought.
The ' contact' of the eye, of the ear, the nose, the tongue,
Oourses of Immoral Action 127
the body and the mind are called the t six contacts! The
' six doors of contact' are those of eye-contact, ear, n()se,
tongue, body, and m.ind-contact. The eight' non-restraints'
are those of the eye, the ear, the nose, the tongue, the sensitive
body, the motor-body, speech and mind.
As to their content, these eight non-restraints are reducible
to five states, namely: immorality, forgetfulness, absence of
knowledge, abs~nce of patience, laziness. Not one of these
[96] arises in the five-doored cognitive process till after the
[instant of] determining. It arises only in the moment when
apperception begins. Unrestrained consciousness arisen in
apperception is called non-restraint in five doors. Contact
co-existent with sight is called sight-contact and the volition
is an act of thought. And that consciousness (i.e., of sight) is
called the door of an act of thought. In sight proper there is no
fivefold non-restraint; contact co-existent with [the moment
of] ' reception: ' is mind-contact, and the volition is an act of
thought. That consciousness (i.e., the receptive) is the door
of an act of thought. Herein also there is no fivefold non·
restraint. And the same is · the. case with 'examination'
and ' determination.'1 Contact co-existent with apperception
is mind-con,tact; the volition is an act of thought and that
(apperceptional) consciousness is the door of an act of thought.
Herein the non-restraint is that of sight, and the same is the
method to be adopted in the door of the ear, of the nose, of
the tongue, of the sensitive skin. But when mind-door apper·
ception arises, having as object one or other of the objects
of sense, resulting in the movement (of body) called body-
door simply (i.e., even without the aid of the vocal door),
then the contact co-existent with that (apperceptional) con-
sciousness is mind-contact.
Volition is an act leading to deed. But that (appercep-
tional) consciousness is not usually spoken of 2 as mind-door.
(That is to say) because of the arising of (bodily) movement
it does not go under the name of mind-door. The non-
restraint here is that of the moving body. When such apper-
' wrong conduct' means ' base and truly blameworthy con-
duct.' The characteristic of 'wrong conduct in sensual
pleasures' is the volition arising in the body-door, through
the unlawful intention of trespassing upon a person to whom
one. has no right of going. Herein persons to whom men
have no right to go are (a) ten classes of unmarried women :-
a woman under the guardianship (1) of her mother, (2) of her
father, (3) of her parents, (4) of her brother, (5) of her sister,
(6) of her relations, (7) of her clan, (8) of her spiritual guide,
(9) a woman under an engagement and (10) a woman under-
going punishment; and (b) ten classes of married women,
namely: (1) one bought by wealth, (2) one who becomes a wife
through her free-will, or (3) through love of property, or (4) of
clothes, (5) on:e lawfully wedded by parents after the ceremony
of dipping the hands of the couple in a bowl of water, (6) one
who is taken from the poorer classes, (7) a slave-wife, (8) a
servant-wife, (9) a wife captured in war and (10) a mistress kept
for a time.
Of these a woman under an engagement and one under
punishment together with (b) the latter ten:-these twelve
it is not allowable for other men to approach. And the sin
is smaller or greater according as the forbidden object is devoid
of or end9wed with virtues, such as the precepts. There
are four constituent factors of this crime: the mind to enjoy
the ·forbidden object, the effort to enjoy: devices to obtain,
and possession. And only one means: personal experience.
' Lying ' is applied to the effort of the body and speech, on
Courses of Immoral Action 131
the part of one who is_deceitful, to destroy the good of others.
The volition setting up the bodily and vocal effort to deceive,
with the intention of cheating others, [99] is termed ' false
speech.' Another definition:-' lying ' is applied to a thing
which. is not genuine or does not exist, and ' speech ' _means the
·representation of that as real, true. The characteristic of
'lying spe~ch or falsehood' is the volition of one desirous of
representing to others an untrue thing as true, which sets up
a corresponding intimation. It is more or less an offence
according as the welfare destroyed is greater or smaller. Or
to put it in another way: It is a small offence in laymen if
they tell an untruth:-' I have it not' -out of a desire not to
give something belonging to themselves; and a great offence
if they, as witnesses. perjure themselves in order to cause
loss (to others). In recluses it is a small offence if, by way of
an ironical joke, on getting but little oil or butter, they say:_:_
' To-day, methinks, a river of oil flows in the village.' It is,
however, a great offence in those who say that they have seen
something which they have not. There are four constituent
factors of this [offence]: an untrue thing, intention to deceive,
corresponding effort, the communication of the inatter to
others. There is only one means: personal action; and that
should be understood a.s the act of deceiving others either by
body, or by something connected with the body,1 or by speech.
If by that act another knows that meaning, the volition pro-
ducing that action is at that moment bound up with the act
of lying. In the same way, as one deceives another by
deed, by something connected therewith, or by speech, so a
person who instigates another, 'Say thus to him,' or who
lays a written leaf before another, or who records a permanent
writing on walls, etc., to this effect, 'This meaning should
be understood thus,' equally deceives others. Therefore it
is reasonable to assume that instigation, transmission and
permanent records are also involved in this form of immorality.
But as the Commentaries have not admitted this~ it should
be adopted only after a critical examination.
1 As an umbrella or a stick.-Ariyalankara.
132 Risings of Consciousness
'Slander' means calumnious speech which, by being said
to another, reduces to nothing the love which that person,
or the speaker bears at his own heart to a third person.
A word which makes one's self harsh,1 or causes another to
be harsh, is in itself harsh, neither agreeable to the ear nor
appealing to the heart. Such a word is termed' abuse.' 2
' Frivolous talk ' 1s speaking senseless, useless things.
The 'volition which is at the root of all speech of this sort,
and is named calumnious, etc., is here alone to be .under·
stood. The volition of one with a corrupt mind, producing
the bodily and vocal effort to sow the seed of discord among
others, or to endear oneself to others is termed the volition
of calumnious speech. It [100] is a smaller or greater offence,
according as the virtue of the person whom he separates is .
smaller or greater: There are foti.r constituent factors of this
crime: (1) Other persons to be divided; (2) the purpose:
' they will be . separated,' or the desire to endear oneself to
another: 'I shall become dear and intimate' ; (3) the corre-
sponding effort; (4) the communication. But when there is
no rupture among others, the offence does not amount to a
complete course.; it does so only when there is a rupture.
By 'harsh speech' 2 is meant the entirely harsh volition
which produces a bodily ai1d vocal effort, stabbing another as
with a mortal wound. 3 The following story is an illustration:
It is related that a certain boy, without listening to his mothe~' s
word, went to a forest. The mother, being unable to prevent
him, cursed him, saying, 'May a wild she-buffalo chase thee!'
And accordingly a she-buffalo appeared in the forest. The boy
m~de an asseveration of truth, ' May what my mother said
happen not; what she thought in her mind, may that happen!'
The buffalo stood as if there transfixed. 4 Thus though her
vocal effort was mortally wounding, yet her speech was not
1 (1) Denies the result of kamma; (2) denies both the cause and the
CHAPTER VI
COURSES OF MORAL ACTION
THE ten courses of moral action are :- abstinence from lif~~
taking, etc., and disinterestedness, good-will and right views.
Of these, life-taking, etc.,1 have been explained. 'Absti-
nence' is that by which people abstain from life-taking, etc.;
or that which itself abstains ;·or that which is the mere abstain-
ing. In the passage where it says ;_.:., That avoidance and
abstinence from life-taking that there is, at that time, in one
who abstains from taking life ' 2-that abstinence which is.
associated with moral consciousness is threefold : (1) [in spite
of] opportunity obtained, (2) because of observance, (3) eradi-
c.ation.
(1) When they who have not undertaken to observe any
particular precept, but who, reflecting on their own birth, age,
experience, etc., and saying, 'It is not fit for us to do such a
bad thing,' do not transgress concerning an object actually
·met with, the abstinence is to be considered as ' in spite of
· opportunity,' like that of Cakkana,3 a lay-disciple in Ceylon.
It is said that when he was young his mother suffered from a
disease, and the doctor recommend~d fresh hare-flesh. Cak-
kana's brother then said to him, 'Go, dear, roam the field,'
and sent him. He went there, and at that time a hare came to
eat the tender crops. On seeing him it ran with speed, and was
caught in the creepers, making the cry kiri ! kiri ! Cakkana
went after the sound, caught the hare and thought, 'I shall
make a medicine for mother.' . Again he thought, 'It is not
proper that for the sake of my mother's life I should take the
life of another.' He then freed the hare, saying, ' Go, enjoy
grass and water with other hares in the jungle,' and when
asked by the brother, ' Well, dear, did you get a hare?' he told
him what had happened. For 'that his brother scolded him.
CHAPTER VII
CONCLUSIONS
To the foregoing discussion should be added a consideration
of courses of action in connection ~ith self-restraint, etc.
Want of self-restraint arisen through the five doors of con-
tact is an immoral mental act.. That which has arisen through
mind, the door of internal contact, is threefold in action.
For when movement of the body-door is reached, it is an
immoral act of body; when that of the vocal door is reached,
it is an immoral act of speech. · When movement of neither
is reached, it is an immoral act of thought.
Want of self-restraint which has arisen through the five doors
is also only an immoral act of body; that which has arisen
through_ the unrestrained door of the moving body is only
an immoral act of body; that which has arisen by the door of
speech or by the door of mind [105] is only an immoral act of
speech or of thought respectively.1 The threefold misconduct
of body is only an immoral act of body; the fourfold miscon-
1 Dh.Y. § 1.
PART IV-OF MORAL CONSCIOUS EXPERIENCE
IN THE WORLDS OF SENSE
CHAPTER I
OF THE SUMMARY OF CONSCIOUS STATES
WHATEVER be the object with which-consciousness is concerned1
-in other words, the consciousness in question has arisen con-
cerning, that is, has made an object of, any of the objects of
sense or ideas of sense specified above. Up to this clause
it might seem as though any one object only among these
objects is permitted to this consciousness; so that it (i.e., this
consciousness) arises on one occasion in one person attending
to a visible object· and again it arises on another occasion in
another person with a sound, and so forth as object. But
there is no such order as its coming into being in any one
existence first with a visible object, afterwards with sound as
object. Nor is there any such uniformity as its coming into
being first with a blue-green object, afterwards with a yellow
object among objects. And it was in order to show that it
oan arise with <ill objects, and that there is neither order in
them nor, in the absence of order, any uniformity iri. respect
of specific sensations, that he said:-' Whatever be the object,
etc.' Consciousness arises not only with a certain, say,
visible object amorig these objects, but in reality with ari.y one
of them as object. It does not first attend to a visible object
and then to sound. It arises with any one of the objects
whatsoever by way of passing over one or two or more
intermediate terms either in the reverse order or in the way
of right succession. Moreover, in the case of a visible object
it does not arise with such a uniformity as attending first to
a blue-green object, afterwards to a yellow object, but with
1 Dhs. § l.
141
142 Risings of Conscioiisness .
any one · of them. Such is the meaning. And the same
with sound as object. This is one construction of the phrase
in question.
Another is as follows :-,Consciousness is termed visual, ·
auditory, etc., or cogitative, because it has a visible, audible,
etc., objeC?t, [107] or has an idea as its object. After having said
that such consciousness arises with its corresponding object,
he added the phrase 'whatever be the object,' etc. The
meani,ng of this phrase is that consciousness may arise 'with
any one of those objects in the manner explained above.
The Great Commentary, however, explains as follows:-
' There is nothing new implied by the expression "whatever
be the object"; what has already been enumerated is to be
taken.' And it goes on:-' This expression was used in
order to teach that consciousness comes into being with this
or that object, i.e., visible object . . . or idea.' Thus much
only is in the Great Commentary.
' At that time ' 1 is an expression which definitely fixes
the time shown indefinitely by the expression ' at·what time.'
Hence this matter should be regarded thus :-When moral
consciousness in the realm of sense arises, then only there is
contact, etc., down to absence of distraction.
Here, just as there ·is consciousness, so also is there contact,
etc. What kind of contact 1 It is that experienced in the
realm of sense; it is moral; it has arisen, and it is accompanied
by pleasure-in this way the construction should be made by
means of such terms as are obtainable. That the expression,
~ as are obtainable,' is used because, in the case of feeling, the
phrase, ' accompanied by pl~asure' is not obtainable, and in
the case of insight, ' associated with knowledge' is not
obt<>lnable, is an opinion of teachers 2 out of touch with the
Commentaries, and should not be regarded as possessing any
value. .
But why is contact mentioned here first 1 Because · of its
.being the first incidence of consciousness on an object, and
arises. touching th~ object. Therefore it is mentioned first.
1 Dhs. § 3.
146 Risings of Consciousness
opens the basket, [110] takes the best of all the soup and ciirries,
puts them in a dish, swallows [a portion] to find out whether
they are faulty or not, and afterwards· offers the food of various
excellent tastes to the king, and the king, being lord, expert,
and master, eats whatever he likes, even so the mere testing
of the food by the cook is like the partial enjoyment of the
object by the remaining states, and as the cook tests a portion
of the food, so the remaining states enjoy a ·portion of the
object, and as the king, being lord, expert, and master, eats
the meal according to his pleasure, so ·feeling, being lord,
expert and master, enjoys the taste of the object, and therefore
it is-said that enjoyment or experience is its function. ·
In thitt second <1efinition feeling is understood as the
1
acteristic of the part touched-e.g., he who has touched the tail says
that the elephant is like a broom-handle, and he who has touched tho
leg says it is like a pestle, etc.-Pyi. Or like one who, though now
blind, can say what an elephant is like.-Ariyalankara. Cf. Udana,
VI. 4.
2 The element of extension has stability and support as character-
istic, yet it cannot appear by itself; it appears with its seven constituents
-viz.: colour, odour, taste, essence (oja), moisture, heat, motion.
Although this is so, at whatever time its state is stable, it is called
extension. Thus the constituents follow the element.- Ariyalankara.
* Abhisandahati.
148 Risings of Consciousness
'Volition is like the nature of a landowner,1 a cultivator
who, taking fifty-five strong men, went down to the fields
to reap. · He was exceedingly energetic and exceedingly
strenuous; he doubled his strength, he doubled his effort, and
said, " Take your sickles," and so forth, pointed out the portion
to be reaped, offered them drink, food, scent, flowers, etc.,
and took an equal share of the work.' The simile should be
thus applied: Volition is like the cultivator; the fifty-five moral
states which arise as factors of consciousness are like the fifty-
five strong men; llke the time of doubling strength, doubling
effort by the cultivator is the doubled strength, double effort
of volition as regar.ds activity in moral and immoral acts.
Thus should conation as its function be understood.
It has directing as manifestation. It arises directing asso-
ciated states, like the chief disciple, the chief carpenter, etc.,
who fulfil their own and others' duties. . As the chief disciple,
seeing the teacher come from afar, himself recites his lessons
and makes other pupils recite each his own lesson; when he
begins the recitation, the rest follow; and as the head wood-
cutter, hewing the wood, himself makes other woodcutters
do each [112] his own work; for when he begins, the others
follow; and as the general, fighting himself, makes other soldiers
take part in the battle, for when he begins, the others follow
his example without turning back; even so, when volition
starts work on its object, it sets associated states to do each
its own work. For when it puts forth energy, they also put
forth energy. Hence the statement that it accomplishes
its own and others' work, like the chief .pupil or the head
carpenter. It is also evident that it arises by causing asso-
ciated states ~o be energetic in such things as recollecting an
urgent work, and so forth.
[Mind or] consciousness 2 is that which thinks of its object.
A definition of the word has been given. 3 As to its characteris-
tics, etc;, cognizing object is its characteristic, forerunnin£.
1 Nii.mariipam. 2 1'hii.ne. .
a Milinda i. 95. ' As in ideation:.-Ed.
150 Risings of Consciousness
·actually not different from those data, so that when the
sun arises its material quality, viz.: heat, also arises, albeit
there is no sun different fr.om the material quality. Con-
sciousness also appears as a derivative from such phenomena
as contact, etc.; but actually it is different from them,
Hence, when consciousness arises, certainly then it is actu-
ally different from contact, etc. To show this meaning the
:mention of consciousness is repeated, and should thus. be
regarded.1
In such passages as: 2 'When for the attainment of
the RU.pa world one cultivates the path thereto and, aloof
from sensualities and from immoral states, by means of
the earth-device, attains and abides in the first Jhana . . .
then there arises contact,' etc., he who ' then '- at a fixed
time-is practising is not the identical he who is reborn.
And therefore in this passage it is only said ' there is
contact . . . feeling '.; it is not said :3 he who is practis-
ing, he is reborn. But in our passage also:-' when moral
consciousness .. . . arises,' etc.,4 the consciousness assigned
to the given time is not actually identical in its arising with
the consciousness which assigned that given time. Hence
it is that, when it is said: 'then there is contact, feeling,' it
is also said: ' there is consciousness.' And hence the repe-
tition of the word ' consciousness ' must be regarded as showing
what actually happens.
This is [our] judgment as to the repetition of 'conscious-
ness. In the section on the outline, the meaning was con-
. densed ;5 in the section of exposition it is detailed. For by
the first word consciousness the time has merely· been ·fixed.
But in order to show, at the time fixed by consciousness, what
states are present, a beginning is made with ' there is contact,'
consciousness being also [named as] present; hence the repe-
tition to include that consciousness.
1 _The simile holds good so far as the arising goes; the emphasis is
on the actual arising of consciousness together with contact, etc., as
the sun always rises with, e.g., its rays.-Tr. Cf. Dhs. § 1, lines 2, 7.
2 Dhs. § 160. 3 In P.T.S. ed. read so hotiti na wtta1µ.-Ed.
• Dhs. § 1. 5 P. 84.
Moral Consciousness in the Worlds of Sense 151
[114] In this place_, if the word 'that' were not mentioned,
it would not be possible in the section of exposition 1 to classify
the consciousness (ari~ing) at that time. Thus would its
classification suffer. Therefore to classify consciousness in
this section it has been repeated.
Or, because in the phrase 'has arisen' this, namely, 'con-
sciousness which has arisen,' is the principal term in the teach-
ing, the Commentary considers that, since consciousness does
not arise in isolation, it is not in the word ' arisen' taken
by itself, but in conjunction with the fifty-five moral [con-
comitant] states. And thus 'consciousness' is first used in-
clusively as involving both itself and these, and secondly as
distinct from these and with them classified according to their
nature in- detail, beginning with 'contact,' consciousness
being here co~sidered as one of them.
' Initial application of mind ' 2 is literally ' one thinks about,'
or a ' thinking about.' It is said to be the prescinding [of
the mind]. 3 Its [main] characteristic is the lifting of conscious-
ness on to the object; having an object, it lifts consciousness
up to it. As someone depending on a relative or friend dear
to the king ascends the king's palace, so depending on initial
application the mind ascends the object. Therefore it has
-been said that initial application lifts the mind on to the
object. And the Elder Nagasena said that' initial application
of mind has the characteristic of the initial knocking. As,
sire, when a drum is struck, it goes on reverberating and
emitting a continuous sound, so initial application of mind
should be looked upon- as the iDitial stroke; and sustained
application of the_mind as the after-reverberation and con-
tinuous emission of sound/ 4 It has the function of impinging,
of circumimpinging. By initial application of mind the
aspirant is said to strike at and around the object. Its
manifestation is bringing the mind near to the object.
1 Dhs, § 6. 2 Dhs. § 7.
3 Cf. Mil. i. 51, where this characteristic (iihana) is assigned to
' wisdom ' (paiina).-Ed.
4 Cf. ib. i. 96, where the simile actually used is a. copper vessel, not a.
drum.-Ed.
152 Risings of Consciousness
' Sustained application of mind '1 is discursive work upon,
or traversing of the object. It has threshing out (or contem-
plation)2 of object as characteristic, the linking of co-existent .
states to .the object as function, and continuous binding as
manifestation. Although there is in some consciousness3
the non-separation of initial and sustained applications of
· mind, the former is the first incidence of the mind on the object,
as it were the striking of a bell, because it is more gross than,
and runs before, (the latter). [115] The latter is the con-
sequent binding of consciousness on the object, as it were the'
reverberation of the bell, because it is more subtle ahd of the
nature of repeated threshing of the object.
Of the two, initial application of mind possesses vibration. 4
When it first arises, it is as a state of mental thrill, like the
flapping of the wings of a bird about to fly up in the air, and
like the alighting in front of the lotus of a bee with mind intent
on the perfume; sustained application of mind is of a calmer
tenour, without much mental thrill, like the planing movement
of the wings of a bird in the sky, and the gyrating of the bee
about the lotus on which it has alighted. But in the Com-
mentary5 initial application, as a lifting of the mind on to the
object, is likened to the movement of a big bird in the sky,
taking the wind with, both wings and keeping them steadily
in a line. For it advances bent on a single object. Sustained
application, on the other hand, should be understood as a state
of contemplating which is like the movement of that flying
bird flapping its wings to take the wind. :For it has been
called a threshing of the object. It is a very fitting term to
use for a · continuous occurrence. The difference between
initial and sustained application of mind is plain in the
first and second Jhanas.6 Further, as when a man holds
1 Dhs. § 8.
2 Anumajjana. Morris derived it from m:j., J.P.T.S., 1886,
p. 118.~Ed.
3 E .g., in First Jhana, fourfold system.
4. On vipphara, Cf. Points .of Comrover8Y, 239 § 9.-Ed.
11 I.e., on the Aiigu.ttara N. i. 171 § 5.-Ed.
8 Fivefold system.
Moral Consciousness in the Worlds of Sense 153
firmly by one hand a dirty copper bowl, and with the other
scrubs it with brush {or husk), initial application of mind is
like the firmly holding hand, and sustained application of mind
the scrubbing hand. So, too, as the potter whirls the wheel
by the stroke of the handle and makes the pot, initial applica-
tion is like the hand pressing the clay down, sustained applica-
tion the hand turning it to and fro. Again, in making a circle
the applying initial application of mind is like the thorn
fixed in the middle and the contemplating sustained applica-
tion of mind. the revolving thorn outside.
'Zest,' 'rapture,' is literally that which satisfies, develops.1
It has satisfaction as characteristic, the thrilling of body and
mind (or suffusion) as Junction, and elation as manifestation.
Rapture is of five kinds :-the lesser thrill, momentary rapture,
flooding rapture, all-pervading rapture and transporting
rapture. Of these, the lesser thrill is only able to raise the.
hairs of the body; the momentary rapture is like the production
of lightning moment by moment; [116] like waves ·breaking
on the seashore, the flooding rapture descends tin the body
and breaks; the transporting rapture is strong, and lifts the
body up to the extent of launching it in the air.
As the.Elder Mahatissa residing at Pu:µi;iavallika on the full-
moon day at eventide went into the courtyard of the shrine,
saw the moonlight, and.turning to the Great Shrine,2 he called
up the transporting rapture, with the Buddha as object of
thought, and by virtue of having habitually dwelt upon the
vision, at the thought:-' In such an holir, lo ! the four assem ·
blies salute the Great Shrine '-on the cemented floor he rose
in the sky like .a ball with mind entranced, and stood even
in the courtyard of the Shrine. Likewise a certain daughter
of noble family, in· Vattakalaka village, the s:upport of Giri-
ka:i;iQ.aka mo:µastery, soared into the sky also by strong trans-
porting rapture when thinking of the Buddha. It is said
that her parents, going in the evening to the monastery to hear
the Doctrine, said, 'Dear, you are heavily burdened; it is
1 Sukha•qi. 2 Dhi.§10.
Moral Consciousness in the Worlds of Sense 155
arises it makes him happy, is its meaning: It is a synonyni
for joyous feeling. · lts characteristic, etc., are the same
as in feeling.1 According to another method, bliss or ease
has the characteristic of being pleasant, the development of
associated states as its function, and shoWing favour2 to the
same as its manifestation. Although in some kinds of con-
sciousness3 rapture and bliss are not dissociated, ·rapture (or·
zest) is delight in the attaining of the desired objec;t, bliss
or ease is the enjoyment of the taste of what is acquired.
Where rapture is, there is ease; but where ease is, there
is not always rapture. Rapture is classed under the aggre-
gate of mental co-efficients, ease under the aggregate of
feeling. Rapture is like a weary traveller in the desert in
summer, who hears of, or sees water or a shady wood. Ease
is like his enjoying the water or entei:ing the forest shade.
For a man who, travelling along the path through a great
desert an~ overcome by the heat, is thirsty and desirous
of drink, if he saw a man on the way, would ask,' Where
is water ?' The other would say, ' Beyond the wood is a dense
forest with a natural lake. Go there, and you will get some.'
He hearing these words would be glad and delighted, and as
he went would see lotus leaves, etc., fallen on the ground
and become more glad and delighted. Going onwards, he.
would see men with wet clothes and hair, hear the sounds of
wild fowl and pea-fowl, etc., see the dense forest of green like
a net of jewels growing by the edge of the natural lake, he
would see the water lily, the lotus, the white lily, etc., growing
in the lake, he would see the clear transparent water, he would
be all the more glad and delighted, [ll8] would descend into
the natural lake, bathe and drink at pleasure and, his oppres-
sion being allayed, he would eat the fibres and stalks of the
lilies, adorn himself with the blue lotus, carry on his shoulders
the roots of the mandalaka, ascend from the lake, .put on his
clothes, dry the bathing cloth in the sun, and in the cool shade
where the breeze blew ever so gently lay him.self' down and say:
1 P. 145 f.
2 Anuggahana. Pyi'interprets this· as 'repeated grasping '-i.e;, of
the mental object. 3 Ci. First Jhii.na.-Tr~
156 Risings of Consciousness
' 0 bliss ! 0 bliss !' Thus should this illustration be applied:-
The time of gladness and delight from when he heard of the
natural lake and the dense forest till he saw the water is
like rapture having the manner of gladness a,nd delight at
the object in view. The time when, after his bath and drink he
laid himself down in the cool shade, saying, ' 0 bliss! 0 bliss!'
etc., is the sense of ease grown strong,1 established in that mode
of enjoying the taste of the object. In fact, the description
(of the two terms) is repeatedly illustrated,2 and so is the fact
that.where there is rapture or 'zest, there also is happiness.
Cittekaggata 3 is one-pointedness of mind, another name
for concentration. Regarding its characteristic, etc., the
Commentary has the following :-Concentratio11- has the
characteristic of leadership, also of non-distraction. As the
dome of a gabled house from binding the remaining constitu-
ents of the building is the leader, so concentration is the leader
of all those states from their being accomplished by conscious-
ness associated with concentration. Hence has it been said:
'As, your majesty, all the rafters of a gabled house go to the
ridgepole, incline towards, meet at the ridgepole, the ridgepole
is called the chief among them; so, your majesty, all moral
states incline towards concentration, slopf' towards concen-
tration, take refuge in concentration; concentration is called
the chief among them.' 4 And as the king in battle goes
wherever the army is giving way, and the army wherever he
has gone becomes reinforced and-the hostile army being ·
broken-follows the king;5 so concentration, from not allowing
the co-existent states to be thrown out and scattered, has
non-distraction as its characteristic.
1 Balappatta'f/i. The 'Mandalay' MS. (India Office) has phalap-
patta11i, 'which ha~ won fruition.'-Ed.
2 As the hearing and seeing of the lake and forest, etc.-Y ojanii.
3 Dhs. § 11.
' Mil. i. 60. 'Refuge in' (samiidhippabbhiira), as in a. cave . . The
three figures occur in the Nikii.yas, applied to the sea (S. iv. 79) and
to Nibbii.na. (ib. 180, etc.). The text of the Burmese translation reads
pii.mokkha.-Ed. . .
5 This simile is ·a lso in Mil., ib., but is here slightly altered a.lid made
more telling.-Ed.
Moral Consciousness in the Worlds of Sense 157
Here is another explanation: l'his concentration, known as
one-pointedness of mind, has non-scattering (of itself) or non-
distraction (of associated states) as characteristic, the welding
together of the co-existent states as function, as water kneads
bath-powder int.o a paste, and peace of mind or knowledge
as manifestation. [119] For it has been said: 'He who is
concentrated knows, sees according to the truth.' 1 It is dis-
tinguished by having ease as proximate cause. Like the
steadiness of the flame of a lamp in the absence of. wind, so
should steadfastness of mind be understood.
By it persons or associated states believe, or one believes,
or the mere believing-this is saddha (faith).2 From the over-
coming of unfaith, faith is a controlling faculty in the sense of
predominance, or in its characteristic of decision it exercises
lordship (over associated states). Faith and · indriya, or
controlling faculty, give the compound ' faith-faculty.' It
has purifying, or aspiring as its characteristic. As the water-
purifying gem of the universal monarch thrown into water
causes solids, alluvia, waterweeds and mud to subside and makes
the water clear, transparent and undisturbed, so faith arising
discards the hindrances, cal1Ses the corruptions to subside,
purifies the mind and makes it undisturbed; the mind being
purified, the aspirant of noble family gives gifts, observes the
precepts, performs the sabbath duties and commences his
culture. Thus faith should be known to have purifying as
its characteristic. Hence has it been said by the venerable
Nagasena: 'As i£, your majesty, a universal monarch were to
cross a small stream with his fourfold army, and the water
would be ,perturbed, dirty, stirred up and muddy by .the
elep~ants, horses, chariots and infantry. And the king,
when he had crossed, were to give an order to the men, " Bring
me water, I say. I will drink.'' ·Now supposing the water-
purifying gem of the king would be with them, they would
reply, "Even so, lord," and throw the gem into the water.
Then at once the solids, alluvia, water-weeds and mud would
subside, and the water would become clear, transparent and
1 A . v. 3. 2 Dhs. § 12.
158 · Risings of Consciousness
undisturbed, and they would offer the water to the king saying,
"Maf the lord drink." As, your majesty, the water, so
should the mind be regarded; as those men, so th~ aspirant;
as the solids, alluvia, water-weeds and mud, so the corrup-
tions; as the water-purifying gem, so faith; as the moment
whentlie water-purifying gem is thrown, and the solids, alluvi_a,
-etc., subsiding, the water becomes clear, transparent and un-
disturbed, so, your majesty, faith arising discards the hin-
drances, [120] and the mind being free from them becomes
clear, transparent and undisturbed.' 1
It is, again, as though a timid crowd stood on both banks
of a great 1!iver full of all sorts of crocodiles, monsters, sharks,
ogres, etc. And a great warrior, the hero of battles, came-and
.inquired, ' Why do you stand still 1' And they would reply,
' We dare not cross on account of the dangers.' But he,
grasping his sharpened sword and saying, 'Follow me and
have no fear,' crossed the river and repelled the oncoming
crocodiles, etc. And making it safe for those folk he led them
from this bank to that, and from that bank he led them in
·safety to the hither bank. 2 So faith is the forerunner, the pre•
cursor to one who is giving gifts, observing the··precepts,
performing sabbath duties and commencing culture .. Hence
has it been said: Faith has purifying and aspiring · as its
characteristic.
Yet another view :~Faith has confiding as its characteristic;
purifying as its function, like the water-purifying gem; or
aspiring faith as function, like the crossing of the floods; free-
dom from pollution or decision as its manifestation; an object
worthy of faith or factors ofstream-winning3 as its proximate
cause. It should be regarded as at once hand, property
and seed.4
Viriya is the state of an energetic man, or it is the action:
of the energetic, or it is that which should be effected, carried
1 Mil. i. 54.
2 Cf. ibid. 55, where the danger lies in the river being in flood.~Ed.
3 D. iii. 227; S. ii. 68-71, etc. '
4 I.e., as emblems of agency, fulfilment, and condition of good
thoughts-:-Ariyalankara.
Moral Oonsciousn.ess in the Worlds. of Bense 159
out by method or suitable means. From its overcoming
idleness it is a controlling faculty in the sense of predominance.
Or, it exercises government with the characteristic of grasp.
Combined with faculty we get the compound: 'energy-faculty.'
Its characteristic is strengthening, and grasp, or support.
As an old house stands when strengthened by new pillars,
so the aspirant, when strengthened by energy, does not fall off,
or deteriorate as to moral states. Thus should the character-
:istic of- strengthening be understood. Hence it was said
by Nagasena: 'As,. your majesty, when a house is falling one
should strengthen it with other pieces of wood; being thus
strengthened, the house would not fall, so, your majesty, [121]
~nergy has the characteristic of strengthening; all moral states
when strengthened by energy do not fall away.' 1 And as a
!')mall army going to battle might be repulsed; then they
would tell the king; the king would send. a strong reinforce-
:ment; the-king's army, being thus supported, would defeat the
hostile army:- thus energy does not allow associated states to
recede, to retreat; it uplifts, supports them. Hence has it
been said that energy has the characteristic of supporting.
Another view is that energy has e_xerting as its character~
istic, strengthening the co-existent states as function, and
opposition to giving way as manifestation. It has been said:
' He being agitated, makes a rational effort,'2 hence it has
agitation, or the basic condition of making energy as proxi-
mate cause. Right energy should be regarded as the root
of all attainments.
Sati3-by this they remember the object, or one remembers
the object, or the mere remembering of the object-this· is
mindfulness. From overcoming confused memory, it is a
faculty in the sense of predominance. It exercises govern-
ment (over associated states) by the characteristic of ' being
present in,' 4 hence it is a controlling faculty, and hence the
1 Mil. i. 57. Viriya and paggaha are in that translation rendered
l Ailguttara i. 148.
Moral Consciousness in the Worlds of Sense 167
Conscientiousness has the characteristic of respectful obe-
dience, fear of blame that of viewing with timidity the fearful
aspect of wrong-doing. This duality is manifested in the
avoiding of evil. A certain man, indeed, from the four causes
of consideration for his high "birth, for the dignity of his
Teacher, for the greatness of his inheritance, for the honour
of his fellow-brethren, produces conscientiousness with the
characteristic of respectful obedience and does not do evil.
A certain man, from the four causes of self-accusation, of
accusation by others, of punishment, of evil destiny, produces
fear of blame with the characteristic of viewing with timidity
the fearful aspect of wrong-doing and does not do evil. Herein
considerations for high birth, etc., and fear of self-accusation,
etc., can [as above] be explained in detail.
By this they do not lust, or itself does not lust, or the mere
act of not lusting-this is 'absence of greed' (or disinterested-
ness). And the. same for' absence of hate' and' of delusion.' 1
0£ these three, absence of greed has the characteristic of
the mind being free from cupidity for an object of thought, or
of its being detached, like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. It
has the function of not appropria-!;ing, like an emancipated
monk, and the manifestation of detachment, like a man fallen
into a foul place. Absence of hate has the characteristic of
freedom from churlishness or resentment, like an agreeable
friend; the function of destroying vexation, or dispelling dis-
tress, like sandal wood; the manifestation c-'- being pleasing,
like the full moon. Absence of delusion has been explained
according to characteristic, etc., in connexion with the term
'faculty of understanding.' 2
Of these three, again, absence of greed3 is opposed to the
taint of grudging, absence of hate to that of wickedness,
absence of delusion to [that of] not developing the moral
qualities. And absence of greed is the condition of giving,
absence of hate that of virtue, and absence of delusion that
of cultlire. Moreover, through disinterestedness3 the excessive
estimates of the covetous are avoided; through amity the
1 Cf. Dialogues ii. 177, which has not l,abbhati, but l,abbha, 'possiljJe'
Dk&:§ 1.
2 The states which have been left out are included in these 30; e.g.,
' happy ease ' and the ' faculty of joy ' are included in ' feeling,' the
'fa.culty of mind ' in ' consciousness,' and the three aspects of Samadhi
as well as 'balance'. are included in 'one-pointedness of mind,' and
so on.-Ariyiilaiikii,ra.
3 Patvii, having reached, won.
• Seep. 171.
178 Risings of Consciousness
and as disinterestedness by way of course of action. Absence
of-hate is spoken of as such by way of root; and as good-will by
way of course of action. Thus these seven states are classified
in two places. Feeling is spoken of as such by way of the five-
fold contact-group, as bliss or ease by way of jhana-factors, as
faculty of joy by way of faculties. Thus one state is classified
in three places. Energy is spoken of as faculty of energy by
way of faculties, as right endeavour by way of Path-factors,
as the strength 'energy' by way of strengths, as 'uplift'
by way of the later couplet.1 Mindfulness is spoken of as
faculty of mindfulness by way of faculties, as right mindfulness
by way of Path-factors, as the strength' mindfulness' by way
of strengths, [135] as mindfulness by way of the later couplet.
Thus two states are classified in four places. Concentration
is spoken of as one-pointedness of mind by way of jhana-
factors, as faculty of concentration by way of faculties, as
right concentration by way of Path-factors, as the strength
'concentration' by way of strengths, as 'calm and non-dis-
traction' by way of the later couplet. Thus this single state
is classified in six places. Understanding is spoken of as the
understanding faculty by way of faculties, as' right views' by
way of Path-factors, as the strength 'understanding' by way
of strengths, as' absence of delusion' by way of roots, as right
views by way of course of action, as' comprehension' [by way
of the e~en pair of states, as 2 ] 'insight' by way of the later
couplet. Thus this single state is classified in seven places.
But if someone should say: -'Therein is nothing new; it only
fills up words in various places by taking what has already
been taken; it forms a discourse of neither connection nor
order, like goods stolen by thieves, an unintelligent discourse,
like grass disturbed in the path of a herd of cattle '-he should
be checked by our saying, 'Not so!' No discourse of the
Buddhas3 is without connection; there is always a connection.
Neither is there an unintelligent discourse . . All has been
spoken with intelligence. For the supreme Buddha knows
CHAPTER II
DISCOURSE ON THE SECTION OF EXPOSITION
Now in order to show the classification of the fifty-six words
which have been fixed as the Text in this Section of the Outline
of States, the Section of Exposition has been begun on this
wise: ' What on that occasion is contact 1' 1
The meaning of this question is:-It has been said that on
the occasion when the main class of automatic consciousness
as experienced in the realm of sense, moral, accompanied by
joy and thrice-conditioned, arises, there arises on that occa-
sion contact. And which is that contact 1 In this way the
meaning of all the following questions should be considered.
' That which on that occasion is contact ' refers to that
contact which on .that occasion arises as a fact of touching.
The word in its simple form2 expresses the· intrinsic nature of
fouch. 3 Pkusana is the act of touching. Samphusana,
increased by the prefix, is the way of touching [viz.: to unite
With the object]. Samphusitattatp, is the state of so touch-
ing. And this is the construction: There is on that occasion
contact by virtue of touching; there is on that occasion that
which is the act of touching; there is that which, on that occa-
sion, is the act of touching to unite with; there is that which,
on that occasion, is the state of touching to unite with. Or
that which, on that occasion, is contact by virtue of touching
is, in other different ways, said to be the act of touching, the
act of touching to unite with, and the state of touching to
1 Dhs. § 2.
2 I.e., without the aid of prefixes or suffixes.-Ariyalaiikara.
3 Or, because it shows the intrinsic nature of touch, free from figures
of speech, this word implies an ultimate reality (sabhiivapada~n), i.e .•
absence of a living entity.-Anutika.
The Section of Exposition 181
unite with. This cont~ct there is on that occasion. And the
same _construction of the words in the expositions of feeling
and the rest should be understood.
The following is a decision by classification common to all:
In showing the classification of the first main type of conscious-
ness experienced in the realm of sense, the Blessed One [ 137]
has placed the fifty and more words in a table of contents and,
taking up each, has made the classification. And they are
thus classified according to three causes, are different accord-
ing to four causes. And in this main type the explanation
of the same terms in other ways is twofold. How 1 They
are classified on these three grounds :-the letter, the prefix,
and the meaning.
Of these, e.g., 'anger, fuming, irascibility, hate, hating,
hatred,1 is a classification according to the letter.' 2 For here
a single thing, that is, anger, is classified according to the
letter. In .' application, sustained application, progressive
application of mind,' 3 the classification is according to the
prefix.4 In' erudition, skill, subtlety, criticism, reflection, in-
vestigation,'5 the classification is according to the meaning.
Three kinds of classification are obtained in the exposi-
tion of the word contact. Phassaphusana (touch, touching)
is a classification according to the letter; samphusana (the
touching, to unite with) is according to the prefix; sam-
phus£tatt(t ·(the state of touching to unite with) is according
to the meaning. In this way the classification in the expo-
sition of all the remaining words should be understood.
Again, they are different for other four reasons:-(1) name,
(2) characteristic, (3) function and (4) opposition. (1) Take
the passage:-' What on that occasion is ill-will 1 That which
·on that occasion is hate, hating ' 6 • • • here ill-will and hate
are only different names for anger. Thus should the difference
in the difference of name.s be regarded.
(2) In the sense of group the five aggregates form one
1 Dhs. § 1060.
2 Vyafijanavasena, i.e., 'verbal form '-'-e.g., kodlw, kujjhanii, etc.
a Dhs. § 8. 4 Thus ciiro, augmented by vi-, anu .•
' Dhs. § 16 o lb. § 419
182 · Risings of Consciousness
aggregate. And of these, ' matter' has the characteristic of
[changing orJ transforming, ' feeling ' of experiencing, ' per-
ception ' of noting, ' volition' of co-ordinating, ' consciousness'
of cognizing. Thus these five aggregates have different
characteristics. Thus should the difference according to
characteristic be understood.
(3) There are four supreme efforts: ' a bhikkhu i:n this
religion sustaining his mind strives for the non-arising of
evil, [138] immoral states which have not arisen,' etc.,1 th1w
a single thing, that is, energy, by difference in function has
arrived at four places, and [thus] difference according to
difference in fucliction should be understood.
(4) The four bad states: they give weight to anger and not
to good states, they give weight to hypocrisy and not to the
good Law, they give weight to gain and not to the good Law,
they give weight to honours and not to the good Law~in such
ways difference according to difference by opposition should be
understood.
And this fourfold difference is obtained not only in contact,
but also in all the fivefold contact-group. Contact, indeed, is
the name of contact. . . . Consciousness is the name of
consciousness. Thus should the difference be understood by
means of the different names. And contact has the character-
istic of touching, feeling of being experienced, perception of
noting, volition of co-ordinating, consciousness of cognizing-
thus should be understood the difference in characteristics.
So contact has the function of touching, feeling of enjoying,
perception of noting, volition of co-ordinating, consciousness
of cognizing-thus the difference according to different func-
tions should be understood. Difference by opposition is not
obtained in the fivefold contact-group. But in the exposition
of absence of greed orlust, et c., there is this passage: 'Absence
of lust, of lusting, of lustfulness ' 2 -thus should difference
by opposition be understood.
1 Not traced.
2 Cf. S. i. 15 (Kindre,d Sayings i. 102), which omits the first two words.
3 lb. 157 (ib. 195). 4 Majjhima i. 368. 5 Dialogues i. 5, § 10.
6 Or, stepping over each station of idleness.-Tr.
1 A1J1]ultara ii. 13;) f. CI. "1. i. 14, 47 (Kindred Sayings i. 22, 67).
2 Read rati-kii.rahtthena. in P.T.S. ed.
3 Above, p. 195. 4 Dhs. § 19.
1 Dhs. § 43.
2 The absence of resistance in acting morally on the part of these
states, which are not devoid of buoyancy, like those associated with
delusion, is 'plasticity' (mudita). The plasticity of immaterial states,
from resemblance to matter, etc., which are said to be plastic on account
of non-rasistance, is' suavity' (maddavata).-~ika.
3 Dhs. § 4.6 f.
4 The mind, exceedingly soft (mudu), being wet with craving.
is unwieldy for moral action, like powdered gold. The mind, very
rigid with conceit, etc., is unwieldy, like unheated gold. The mind
which is soft to the right extent ior morality is wieldy, like
properly tempered gold. Thus wieldiness depends on the right soft-
ness.-7'ika.
a Dlts. § 48 f. o lb. § 50.
The Section of Exposition 201
He who, having done evil, says, ' I have not done it,' is said
to be crooked like ox-urine from having proceeded and backed
out. ·He who, while doing evil, says, 'I fear evil,' is said to
be crooked like the crescent moon from being crooked· in
general.. He who, while doing evil, says: ' Who may not fear
evil ?' is said to be crooked like the ploughshare from being
but slightly crooked. Or again, whoever has the three doors
of action impure is said to be crooked' like ox-urine '; whoever
has any two doors of action. impure is said to be crooked
' like the crescent moon ' ; and whoever has one door of action
impure is: said to be crooked like · the ploughshare. But the
reciters of the Digha-Nikiiya say: One, who in the whole
of his life practises the twenty-one things not to be pursued1
and the ·six things not to be practised2 is said to be crooked
like ox-urine. One who during the first portion of his life
fulfils the four Purity Precepts,3 abominates evil, is sensitive,
is observant of the precepts, and is like the preceding person
[152] in the middle and last portions of his life is said to
be crooked like the crescent moon. On~ who during the
first and middle portions of his life fulfils the four Purity
Precepts, abominat~s ~vil, is sensitive, is observant of the
precepts, and is like the preceding two types of persons in
the last portion of his life is said to be crooked like the
CHAPTER III
ON THE SECTION OF THE SUMMARY1
THUS far is finished the section of the determination of states
adorned by its eight divisions, to wit, four in the section of
outline (questions, exposition of occasion, outline of states,2
conclusion) and the same four in the · section of exposition._
Now the section of the summary is begun with, ' On that occa-
sion there are four aggregates.'3 It is threefold by virtue of
.outline, exposition and further exposition. Of these, 'Now
on that occasion there are four aggregates,' etc., gives the
outline. ' What on that occasion are the four aggregates 1'
etc., is the exposition. 'What on that occasion is the aggre-
gate of feeling 1' etc., is the further exposition.
Of these, in the section of the outline, there are twenty-
three portions beginning with the four aggregates. Their .
meaning should be taken thus:
At what time the first main type of moral consciousness,
CHAPTER IV
OF THE SECTION ON THE VOID, OR EMPTINESS1
Now, 'At that time there are states,' thus the section of the
Void begins. It stands in two ways-outline and eixposition'.
In the former section, with the words, ' states there are,'
there are twenty portions, but in none of them is there a
division made, as above, into four, two, three. And why ?
Because such a division was made in the section of the sum-
mary. The states classified there are spoken of here. And
here there are only states; no permanent being, no soul is
known.2 These (fifty-six states) are mere states without
essence, without a guiding principle. And it is to show the
emptiness of this that they are stated here also. Therefore
the meaning should here be thus regarded.
At. what time the first main type of moral consciousness
experienced in tlie realm of sense arises, at that time, by virtue
of being factors in consciousness, the fifty and more states which
have arisen are ultimate things. There is nothing else whatever,
neither a being, nor an individuality, nor a man, nor a person.
Likewise they are aggregates in the sense of groups. Thus by
the former method the connexion of the matter should be
understood in all the words.
And because there is no Jhana factor different from Jhana,
. no Path-factor different from the Path, therefore here it
is said merely: 'there is Jhana, there is the Path.' There
is Jhana in the sense of viewing the object closely; there is
Path in the sense of condition [for getting Nibbana]; there is
no other, neither a being nor an individuality-thus should
the connexion of the meaning be understood in all the words.
The meaning of the section of the exposition is evident.
-Here ends the section of the Void. ·
Here ends the Commentary on the First Type of Conscious-
ness set forth as adorned with the three main sections.
i:Dhs. § 121.
2 Bhiivo ti satto, yo koci vii attho.-Tikii.
The Second Type of Consciousness 207
CHAPTER V
THE SECOND TYPE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Now to show the second class of consciousness, etc., the
beginning is thus: ' which are the states ?'1 In all of them
the main sections should be understood. as given in the first
class.
[156] And not only. the main sections, but the meaning
of all the words which have been analogously stated in the
first type of consciousness should be understood in the
manner alteady given. After this second class of conscious-
ness we shall comment on new words only.
In the exposition of the second class, ' sasankharena ' 2 is a
new word, meaning ' with safikhiira.' The import is ' with
external plan, effort, instigation, expedient, totality of causes.'
By what totality of causes, viz., an object, etc., the first main
type of consciousness arises, with that instigation, that expe·
dient the second . type arises. Thus should its arising be
understood. For instance'; in this dispens~~tion a certain
bhikkhu, dwelling in a border monastery, when the time has
arrived to sweep the courtyard of the shrine, or to attend to
the Elder or to listen to the Law, thinks thus: 'It is too far
to go and come back. I will not go.' He thinks again; ' It
is improper for a bhikkhu not to sweep the courtyard, not
to attend to the Elder, not to listen to the Law. I will
go,' and goes. Now whether it is from self-instigation, or
whether he has been admonished by another pointing out the
disadvantage in not doing one's duty, etc., and the advantage
in doing it, or whether he has done his duty by being impelled
thereto by such words as,' Come and do this,' his moral con-
sciousness is said to have arisen by external plan, by the
'totality of causes.
CHAPTER VI
. THE THIRD TYPE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
IN the tlµrd class of consciousness natfavippayutta means
'dissociated from knowledge.' This consciousness also takes
pleasure in the object, but here there is no discriminat-
ing knowledge. It should be regarded as the consciousness
arising in you.:'.lg boys who, when they see and greet a bhikkhu,
say, 'This is my Elder,' and show respect when saluting the
shrine and listening to the Law. But in the text here under-
standing is lacking in seven places.1 The remaining contents
need no comment.
CHAPTER VII
THE FOURTH TYPE OF QONSOIOUSNESS.2
IN the fourth class of consciousness also the same method
should be taken. Because it is said to be with external plan,
we may regard it as obtained, e.g., at such a time when parents
catch hold of young boys by the head and make them pay
homage to the shrine, etc., and the boys, although it was not
their aim, do so with pleasure.
CHAPTER VIII
THE FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH TYPES
OF OONSCIOUSNESS3
IN . the fifth class of consciousness, upekkhasahagata means
' accompanied by hedonic indifference.' [157] For this fifth
class is neutral towards the object, and there is also a discrimi-
nating knowledge. It is stated here in the text that in fivefold
Jhana there is indifference, in the eight controlling faculties
there is indifference. Accordingly, in the exposition of all
faultless thing, re]oices at the gain of another, so one who gives thanks
rejoices. at· another's possessions.-filca.
Remaining Types of Consciousness 213
it; in reflecting 'I have preached it,' we think, preach, reflect
by them. In thinking ' I will listen to the doctrine ' ; in doing
so; in reflecting ' I have listened,' we do likewise. Likewise
in thinking ' I will rectify my opinion.' But in rectifying
our opinion we do so only by one or other of the fou..r main
classes of moral consciousness associated with knowledge. In
reflecting 'I have rectified my opinion,' we do so by one or
other of all the eight.
In this connexion1 there are four Infinites, to wit, (1) space,
(2) world-systems, (3) groups of sentient beings, (4) the know-
ledge, of a Buddha.
(1) There is, indeed, no limit to space reckoned as so many
hundreds, thousands, or hundred thousands of yojanas to
east, west, ·north, or south. If an iron peak of the size of
Mount Meru were to be thrown downwards, dividing the earth
in twain, it would go on falling and would not get a footing.
Thus infinite is space.
(2) There is no limit to the world:systems reckoning by
hundreds or thousands of yojanas. If the four [161] Great
Brahmas, born in the Akani~~ha mansion, endowed with
speed, and capable of traversing a hundred thousand world-
systems during the time that a light arrow shot by a strong
archer would take to travel across the shadow of a palmyra
tree, were with such speed to run in order to see the limit of
the worldcsystems, they would pass away without accom-
plishing their purpose. Thus the world-systems are infinite.
(3) In so many world-systems there is no limit to beings,
belonging to land and water. Thus infinite are the groups of
beings.
(4) More infinite than these is a Buddha's knowledge.
Thus of the countless beings in the countless world-
systems, many kinds of moral consciousness experienced in
the realm of sense, accompanied by joy, associated with know-
ledge, and with external aid, arise to one and many to many.
And all of these in the sense cif being experienced in the realm
216
Fourfold Jhiina 217
with volition, or both. In the passage: ' Sariputta, I know
purgatory and the path leading to purgatory,' 1 the' path' is
the volition [the will that leads thereto]. In the lines:
Faith, modesty and -meritorious giving-
These are the things that men of worth pursue ;
This, say they, is the path celestial;
Hereby we pass into the deva-world, 2
states associated with volition are the ' path.' Volition and
states associated with volition are the' path' in.the Sankharu·
papatti Butta, etc.:-' This, bhikkhus, is the path, this is the
way.' 3 In the present connection, from its being said to be
jhana, the states associated with volition are intended. And
inasmuch as volition in jhana drags in rebirth, therefore both
volition and the associated states increase. ·
' Develops ' 4 means to beget, produce, increase. This
is the meani:p_g of .bhavana here. Elsewhere the meaning
is different according to the. preposition, as sambhavana,
paribhavana, vibhiivana. Of these, sambhavana means re-
ligious confidence, thus:-' In my Order, Udayi, my disciples
believe in the higher ethics, knowing that the recluse Gotama.
is virtuous and is endowed with the higher ethics.' 5 'Con-
centration perfected by virtue is of much fruit, of great advan-
tage; understanding perfected by concentration is of much
fruit, of great advantage; the mind perfected by understanding
is well freed from the Intoxicants ' 6 -here paribhiivanii means
perfecting. Vibhiiiiana means disappearance in: 'cause
matter, cause feeling, perception, activities, consciousness
to disappear.' 7
Again, bhavanii is used in the sense· of producing and
increasing, e.g.:-' Udii.yi, I have preached to the disciples
1 ·Majjhima i. 73.
2 Anguttara iv. 236. Bur.rnese t~xts, for diviyaiF (celestial) read viri-
ya1J1·· Cf. Points of Gontrov~sy, 199.
a Majjhima iii. 100.
4 B.P.E. : ' cti.ltivates ' (bhaveti). Cf. B. Psy. 107 n. 1, 133, 158.
s Majjhima ii. 9.
·6 Digha ii. 81 (Dialogues ii. 85 f.>·. 7 Not traced.
218 Risings of Consciousness
the practice according to which they develop the four applica-
tions in. mind£ulness.'1 And such is its meaning here also.
Hence it has been said that bhaveti means to beget, .produce,
increase. But why is the teaching l;iere on the moral con-
sciousness of the realm of attenuated matter initiated by the
personal agent, and not by taking the conscious state (dham-
ma ), as in the exposition of the moral consciousness of the
sensuous realm 1· [164] Because it should be accomplished by
practice. For the moral consciousness of this realm· is to be
accomplished by one or other of the four Modes of Progressive
Practice.2 It does not arise without progressive practice. like
that of tp.e sensuous realm. And progress arises when there
_is a person to attain it. To show this meaning the 'Blessed
One, in giving the teaching introducing first the person, has
said: 'he develops the path for rebirth in the RU.pa sphere.'
Next, the phrase ' aloof, indeed, from sensuous desires ' 3
means being separated from, being without, having parted
from the pleasures of sense. And the word ' indeed ' (eva)
here is to be understood as having the meaning of assurance. 4
Because it has this meaning the Blessed One shows the oppo-
sition of the First Jhana to the pleasures of sense which do not
exist in the interval when one has attained it (First Jhana),
and its attainment only by the rejecting of them. How 1
·when thus, by being aloof from sensuous desires, assurance
is given, this meaning is made clear :-as where darkness exists,
there is no lamp-light, so this Jhana does not arise in the
presence of sensuous desires, which, indeed, are opposed to it.
As by abandoning the hither bank, the thither bank is obtained,
so by abandoning .sensuous desires this Jhana is attained.
Therefore he made thi.s a matter of assurance.
Herein one might object: ' But why is this " indeed " spoken
with the preceding term (i.e., sensuous desires) and not with
the following term (i,e., immoral states) 1 What 1 should one
live attaining to this Jhana without being aloof from im-
moral s.tates 1' Not thus should the matter be understood.
CHAPTER II
THE SECOND JHANA2 ,
IN the exposition of the Second Jhana, the clause:-' from
the suppression of initial and sustained application' [169]
means ' owing to the suppression, the transcending of these
two: initial application and sustained application, they not
being manifested from the moment when Second Jhana begins.'
Not only are all the inental factors of First Jhii.na not present
in Second Jhana, but even those that are present--contact,
and so on-are different. It is through the transcending of
the gross element that there is the attainment of other Jhanas,
the second from the First and so on. And it should be under-
stood that it was to show this meaning that the words ' from
the suppression of initial and sustained application' were said.
'Subjective' (ajjhatta) here means 'personal.' But in
the Vibhaiiga just this is said:-' "Subjective" means self-
referring.'3 And because ' personal ' is intended, therefore
that which is one's own, produced in one's continuity, is to
be here understood.
Next, 'tranquillizing' :-faith is said to be tranquillizing.
Through connection with it, the jhana also is said to be tran-
quillizing, as a cloth when steeped in indigo is called indigo.
Or, because this jhana tranquillizes the mind owing to its
union with faith and the suppression of the disturbing initial
1 Or 'desire-to-do' (chanda). 2 Dhs. § 161.
3 Vibhanga258--paccatta1.n; 'personal' isniyakai,n. Cf. below.-Ed.
226 Risings of Consciousness
and sustained application, therefore it is called ' tranquillizing;'
in this second sense the construction- is -to be understood as
' the tranquillizing of mind.'
In the former sense, ' of mii:id ' is to be construed as 'with
supreme exalfati on,' this being the connected meaning :-alOne
(lit. one, eko) it rises above (udeti)-:-this is ekodi (exalted). 'No
1onger'overgrown by initial and sustained application, it rises up
at the top, as the best' is the meaning; for in the world what
is best is also called unique (eko). Or, it may also be said that.,1
as deprived of initial and sustained ~pplication, it rises up
(udeti) single, or companionless; hence 'rising alQne.' Or,
again, it raises associated states, or causes them to rise. ' One '
in the sense of 'best,' and exalted in the sense of 'raising,'
give us ekodi:-' supremely exalted '-which is a s;ynonym
for concentration. And this Second Jhana develops this
exaltation, therefore it is called ekoiribliava-' pre-eminent,'
'single,' 'best to produce associated states.' And as it is
· of mind and not of an entity, or a living principle, it has
been said to be' unique exaltation of mind (cetaso).'
-· [It may here be objected:-] is not this faith and this concen-
tration called 'uniquely exalting' present in First Jhana also _1
Why this tranquillizing only, and unique exaltation of mind 1
The answer is :-That First Jhana, being disturbed by initial
and sustained application, is not quite clear, but is like water
full of big and small waves, therefore [170] it is not said to be
tranquillizing, though there be faith in it. And because it
is not quite clear, concentration in it is not well manifested;2
therefore unique exaltation is not ascribed to it. But in the
Second Jhana, owing to the non-existence of the impediments
of initial and sustained application, faith, having got its
. opportunity, is strong, and concentration, by attaining inti-
mate alliance with strong faith, is manifested. Therefore in
this way should the formula be understood.
In the Vibhanga only this much is said, that tranquillity
is faith, believing, confiding, assuring; and that unique e:x:alta-
CHAPTER III
THE THIRD JHANA
IN the exposition of the Third Jhana, 2 in the clause 'because of
distaste for ·rapture,' the distaste is the revulsion from, or
transcending of, the kind of rapture mentioned. The word
"and' between the two words, rapture and distaste, has
--"""----------~----~------~--····- --
CHAPTER IV ,
THE FOURTH .IBANA
IN the exposition of the Fourth Jhana, the clause ' from the
putting away of pleasure and from the putting away of pain '1
inean,s the putting away of pleasure and pain in the mental
factors.
'Previous' means that the putting away of pleasur-e and
pain took }Jlace before, and not at the moment of the Fourth
Jhana.
The clause 'from the passing away of joy and grief,'
namely, of mental pleasure and mental pain, has been said
[176] because ofthe previous passing away, the putting away
of these two. When ate they put away 1 At the 'access' -
moments2 . of the four Jhanas. For joy is put away at the
access-moment of the.Fourth Jhana; pain, grief and pleasure
are put away[respectively] at the access-moments of the First,
Second and Third Jhanas. Thus, although they have not
been stated according to the sequence of their removal, yet
their removal should be understood even by the sequence of
the summary of . controlling faculties . both in the I ndriya-
Vibhangas and here.
But if they are put away at the access-moments preceding
this or that Jhii.na, then why is it said [that their cessation -is
in the -Jhii.nas themselves] thus: ' Where does the uprisen
controlling. faculty 0£ pain cease completely 1 Bhikkhus, in
this case the bhikkhu, aloof indeed from sense-desires . . .
enters into and abides in the First Jhii.na. Here the control-
lmg faculty of pain which has arisen ceases completely..• ..
Where do the controlling faculties of grief, ..• of pleasure, ....
and of joy which have arisen cease completely 1 Bhikkhus,
in this case the bhikkhu from the putting away of joy
. •. . enters into and abides in the Fourth Jhii.na. Here the
controlling faculty of joy which has arisen ceases completely.' 4
CHAPTER V
THE FIVEFOLD SYSTEM
Now with the words:-'-' which are the states that are moral,' 1
the :fivefold system begins.
Why [is there a :fivefold system]? There are two reasons:-
[to satisfy some] persons' inclinations, and to adorn the teach-
ing. To expand :-In the assembled gathering of th~ spirits,
to some spirits only initial application of mind appeared gross,
and sustained application of mind, rapture, pleasure, one-
pointedness of mind appeared good. To them in a fitting
manner the Teacher divided the fourfold Second Jhana as
without initial, and with only sustained, 11pplication. To
some spirits sustained application appeared gross, and rapture,
pleasure and one-pointedness of mind appeared good. To
1 Dhs. § 167.
240 Risings of Consciousness
themina fitting manner he classified the threefold Third Jhana.
To some spirits rapture appeared gross and pleasure and one-
pointedness ·Of mind appeared good. To them in a fitting
manner he classified the twofold Fourth Jhana. To some spirits
pleasure appeared gross and indifferenpe and one-pointed-
ness of mind appeared good. To them in a fitting manner he
classified the twofold Fifth Jhana. Thus far for [the appeal to
different] personal inclinations. Again, those conditions of the
Law by which, because they have been thoroughly penetrated,
the teaching is adorned-those conditions were thoroughly
penetrated by the Tathagata. Hence, because of the vastness
of his knowledge, the Teacher, who is skilful in arranging his
teaching, and who has attained the [art of] embellishing it,
fixes that teaching by whatever factor that has come to hand,
and in any way he chooses. Thus here he has classified a
First Jhana of five factors, a fourfold Second Jhana ' without
initial and with only sustained application of mind,' a three-
fold Third Jhana, a twofold Fourth Jhana and a twofold
Fifth Jhana. This we have called embellishing the teaching.
Further, the Blessed One· taught three kinds of ooncentra-
tion in the Suttanta passage: ' Bhikkhus, the three kinds of
concentration are: with initial arid sustained application of
mind, without initial and with only sustained application,
without initial and without sustained application.' 1 Of these,
that with initial and sustained application, and that without
initial and sustained application have been classified and shown
above; [180] but not that concentration without initial and
with only sustained application. And it should be understood
that the Fivefold System has been begun to show that con-
centration.
In the list:-' contact,' and so on, belonging to the exposi-
tion of the second Jhana of the Fivefold System,2 only ' initial
appiication of mind' is wanting. And in the section of the
Groups this also is special: 'There is the fourfold Jhana,
there is the fourfold Path.' All the rest are the same as in
CHAPTER VI
THE FOURFOLD PROGRESS
By so much has the double classification, called the Ninefold
Scheme, comprising the fourfold and fivefold systems, been
set forth. But in its contents this classification should be
1 Salfi'!fUlla i. 220, etc. (Kindred Sayings 282).
244 Risings of Consciousness
known as the Fivefold Jhana, the fourfold system being in- ·
eluded in the fivefold system.
Now because this jhana is accomplished also with a certain
rate of progress, therefore, in order to show the classification
of progress, the text again begins with ' which are the states
that are moral 1'1
'Herein, when this jhana has a painful progress, we get tho
clause 'progress being painful'; when there is sluggish
intuition, we get ' intuition being sluggish.' Thus there are
three names to this jhana, to wit : ' painful progress,' ' sluggish
intuition,' and 'earth-device.' And the same method is
observed in' painful progress, quick intuition.' 2
Herein, from the first resolve till the access of the particular
jhana arises, the jhana-development which occurs is called
progress. And the insight which .occurs from the access till
the ecstasy is called intuition.3 And this progress is painful
to some. The meaning is that, (183] from the abundant produc-
tion of such opposing states as the Hindrances, it is difficult,
not pleasant to carry on. To some, from there being no such
opposition, it is easy.
To some, again, intuition is sluggish, weak and of slow occur-
rence; to others it is quick, strong and of swift occurrence. .
Hence he who from the beginning, in discarding his lower
nature, does so with fatigue, painfully, by means of external
aid, of instigation, to him progress is painful. And he who,
having discarded the lower nature, abiding round about the
ecstasy, takes long to attain to the ·manifestation of the
jhana-factors, is of sluggish intuition. He who quickly
attains to the manifestation of the jhana-factor is of quick
intuition. He who in discarding the lower nature does
so with ease, without fatigue, is one to whom progress is
easy.
Details concerning what is fitting and is not fitting, prelimi-
nary works such as cutting off the impediments, skilfulness in
ecstasy, etc., have _been explained 4 in the exposition of mental
CHAPTER VII
THE FOUR OBJECTS OF THOUGHT
Now because this Jhana is fourfold by object-classification, as
well as by progress-classification, therefore, to show the former
classification, we have again the beginning: 'which are the
states that are moral rs
In this clause:-' limited and with .a limited object of.
associated with craving which lusts after the various Jhii.nas. Or that
mindfulness which bears the various Jhii.nas and which is not free from·
lusting after them.-'.fikii.
· 2 I.e., .the progress of the Second and other Jhii.nas depends 'some·
times, but not always, on the attainment of the First Jhii.na.-'.fika.
a Dk& § 181.
The J!'our Objects of Thouyht 247
thought'-' limited' refers .to that Jhana which.has not been
practised and is not able to become a cause of the next higher
Jhana. Again, that Jhana which arises in respect of an object
of the size of a small sieve, or the cover of a cooking-pot, and
which has a small object, is said to be 'with a limited object
of thought.' '
That Jhana [on the other hand] which has been practised
and well developed, and is able to become the cause of the
next higher Jhana, is called 'immeasurable.'1 That Jhana
which arises in re~pect of an extensive object and which has
a:p. immeasurable object due to its growth in size is said to be
'with an immeasurable object of thought.' And from the
·combination of the characteristics already mentioned the
combined method should be understood. Thus in respect
of objects also the four ninefold methods have been discussed.
And the classes of consciousness here are the same in number
as in the preceding fourfold progress.
EJtd of the fourfold Object of Thought.
CHAPTER VIII
THE SIXTEENFOLD COMBINATION
Now in order to show the sixteenfold method of combined:
object and progress [185] we have again in the beginning:-·
' ·which are the states that are moral 1' 2 Therein the jhana
spoken of in the first system is low for four reasons: painfulness
of progress, sluggishness of intuition, limitedness, limitedness
of object, The jhana spoken of in the sixteenth method is
e.xalted for fou,r reasons: ease of progress, quickness of intui-
tion, immeasurableness, immeasurableness of object. In the
remaining fourteen methods the .lowness and exaltedness
should be known for one, two and three reasons.
CHAPTER IX
DISOOUR8R ON THE DEVICES (OR ARTIFICES,
KA8IJYA)
BuT why was this method taught ? Because it led to the
production of jhana. To expand: the supreme Buddha, in con-
nection with the' earth-device,' taught schematized1 jhana by
the fourfold and the fivefold methods; likewise schematized
progress and object. Of the two jhana-series also, to those
spirits who were able to un4erstand schematized jhana by
the earth-device as it is taught by the fourfold method, this
fourfold method was taught in a fitting manner. To those
spirits who were able to understand it as it was taught by the
fivefold method, the fivefold method was taught in a fitting
manner. To those spirits who were able to understand it as it
is taught by the fourfold method, with schematized progress
and object, the fourfold method in bare progress and bare
object was taught in a fitting manner. To those spirits who
were able to understand it as it was taught by the fivefold
method, the fivefold method was taught in a fitting manner.
Thus the teaching has been taught above with reference to
people's [various] inclinations.
And the Supreme Buddha, who was capable of adorning
the teaching, had divided the four branches of analytical
knowledge, and had a clear knowledge of the ten' strengths,'
the four grounds of confidence, etc., was able, owing to his
-having well penetrated the irreversible functions and
characteristics2 of states, and his skill in concepts of _things,
to fix the teaching by any method whatever. Therefore, by
means of his proficiency in elaborating the teaching, he made a
discourse on the bare fourfold mdli.od in connection with the
'earth-artifice.' And because those persons who bring up
jhana cannot do so without object and progress, therefore,
because it is certain to produce jhana, this sixteenfold method
was set forth.
1 Suddhika-, lit. pur-ish. Cf. Points of Controversy, 14, n . 2 .
.2 Or, the characteristics known in their own irreversible nature.-
¥ ojanii.
The Ten 'Devices' 249
So far the bare set of nine, the four progress sets of nine,
the four object-sets of nine, these sixteen sets of nine, in all,
twenty~five sets of nine, have been set forth. In each set of
nine are two methods, namely, the fourfold and the fivefold
methods. Thus there are fifty methods. In the text are
two hundred and twenty-five kinds of jhana-consciousness:
one hundred in the twenty-five fourfold methods, [186] one
hundred and twenty-five in the fivefold methods. But from
thefourfold method.being included in the fivefold method, there
are only one hundred and twenty-five modes of consciousness.
And of these two hundred and twenty-five modes of conscious-
ness which are in the text, in the exposition of each are three
main sections ·beginning with the determination of states.
But they have been abridged after the schematized method
in each exposition had been shown.
End of the Earth-device.
CHAPTER X
THE OTHER DEVICESl
Now inasmuch as these Jhanas arise also through the water~
device, etc., in order to show these devices we have again as
opening question, ' Which are the states that are moral ?' 2
In them the textual method, elucidation of meaning, classes
of consciousness and abridgment of sections are all to be
understood as given under the earth-device. But the whole
of this method of culture, beginning with the preamble of the
device, has been set forth in the Visuddhi Magga. 3
In the Mahasakuludayi-Sutta4 ten devices are mentioned. Of
them, the' consciousness' -device is the same as the sublime con-
sciousness produced with respect to space, and as the attain-
ment of the sphere of infinite consciousness produced after the
preamble of the sublime consciousness. Thus it follows the
._ ____:__ _____··- ·--··-·-·-----··-· · .,.
CHAPTER ~I
CHAPTER XII
DISCOURSE ON THE -DELIVERANCES
Now be~ause this .moral consciousness of the realm of .at-
tenuated matter arises, not merely as positions of master}',
by mastering the positions called objects, but also as de-
liverance, therefore, in showing that method, again the begiri-
ning has been made with ' Which are the states that a;e
moraU'1
Now in what ~ense should 'deliverance' be understood 1
In the sense of adhimuccana, And what does this mean 1
Adhimuccana means being ' well freed ' from opposing states,
or it means sm1tained attention by way of taking delight in
the object. It is said to be the occurrence in the object2 with-
c;mt oppression and without hesitation, like the sleep of a child
on the hip of the father with its limbs, big and small, quite
free. It is to show the moral consciousness of the realm of
attenuated matter with such characteristics, and as havirig
attained to deliverance, that this method has been begun.
Therein 'one having material qualities' (rupi} refers to the
_po~session of material quality (riipar11), which means the
rupajhana, produced with reference to the hairs, etc., of
one's own body. For in doing the preamble of blue-green as to
one's own body, one does it with reference to the hair, or the
bile, or the pupil of the eye. In doing the preamble of yellow,
it is done with reference to_the fat, the skin, [191] or the yellow
spot of the eyes. In doing the preamble of red, it is done
1 Dh:s. § 248; 2 Or, 'procedure in connection with the object.'
256 Risings of Consciousness
with reference to the flesh, the blood, the tongue, the palms
of the hands and feet, or the red of the eyes. In doing the
·preamble of white, it is done with reference to the bones,
the teeth, the nails, or the white of the eye. Thus it is with
reference to a person who has done the preamble, and is pos-
sessed of the jhii.na induced, that this has been said.
'Sees visible objects' means he sees with jhana-vision
the external device-objects, blue-green, etc., also. By this
sentence the jhana-attainment is shown with reference . to
the devices of both the internal and the external bases.
'Unaware of his own material qualities.' 1 The meaning is
to be without the jhana produced with reference to one's own
hairs, etc. By this phrase is shown the state of the jhana
. obtained through external [objects] by performing the
preamble externally. ·
By the phrase 'How beautiful 1' 2 the Jhanas are shown in
. colour-devices, such as blue-green, of thorough purity. In
such jhana it is true that there is no discernment of the
beautiful within (anto) the ecstasy. Nevertheless, one who,
maintaining as object of his thought a thoroughly pure and
_beautiful device, may abide in the attainment of First Jh~na,
with the thought, ' How beautiful !' and of the other Jhanas
likewise. Such an one is indicated in the teaching.
Now in the Paf:isambhidii-magga [the question is asked]: 3 - ·
. ' By the mere la,ying to heart that " it is beautiful !" how
is there deliverance ~ 4 Here in this case the bhikkhu
continues to diffuse one quarter of a [given] region with
,thoughts of love. . . . Owing to this culture in love, persons
become free from aversion. Again, he continues to diffuse
one quarter of a [given] region with thoughts of pity, of
sympathy ... of indifference. Owing to this culture in ...
indifference, persons become free from aversion. Thus he
lays to heart that it is beautiful. And for this reason there
is deliverance.'
But here, because it is dealt with further on in the text
of the Divine States,5 that method has been rejected, and
1 Dhs. § 249. 2 lb. § 250. 3 Pts. ii. 39.
CHAPTER XIII
THE DIVINE STATES
Now to show the moral consciousness of the realm of attenu-
ated matter occurring by way of the Divine States of love,
etc., -again the beginning is made with ' What are the states
that are moral P
Therein ' accompanied by love ' means possessed of love.
And the same with the following ' accompanied by pity,' etc.
Now by whatever arrangement one practises and lives in
the attainment of the Jhanas accompanied by love, etc.,
all that arrangement of culture has been explained at length
in the Visu~dhi Magga. 2 The meaning of the remaining text
should be understood by the method given in the earth-
device. It is only in the earth-device that there are twenty-
five sets of nine. Here in the first three of the Divine States
1 Fivefold system.
264 Risings of Consciousness
CHAPTER XIV
THE DISCOURSE ON THE FOUL
Now in order to show a class of moral consciousness of the
realm of attenuated matter1 certainly beneficial to beings who
walk in lust and which proceeds by virtue of each of the
Jhanas among [certain] various objects, once more we have
the beginning' which are the states that are moral 1' 2
Herein ' accompanied by the perception of a swollen thing,'
' swollen' is said of a corpse bloated by degrees from the time
of the loss of life onwards, like a bather's inflated bag. Or,
' swollen thing ' refers to its loathsomeness from its abomin-
a~le state, and is a synonym for such a corpse. ' Discoloured
thing' is a corpse of a predominating blue-green colour, mixed
with white and red; or just a corpse of blue-green colour cor-
rupted from its original state; or it is a corpse discoloured and
loathsome from its abominable state. It is an · equivalent
term for a corpse of a red colour in the fleshy parts, white
where matter gathers, and generally of a blue-green colour in
blue-green parts, as though covered by a blue-green sheet.
'Festering thing' is a corpse with matter fl.owing in lacerated
places; .or it is a corpse loathsome from its abominable state
and is festering. It is an equivalent term for such a corpse.
'Fissured thing' is a corpse split in two, or a corpse fissured and
loathsome from its abominable state. .It is an equivalent t~rm
for a corpse cut in the middle. ' Mangled thing ' is a corpse
torn here and there in various ways by dogs and jackals, etc.,
or it is a corpse mangled and loathsome from its abominable
state. It is an equivalent term for such a corpse. ' Dis-
membered thing ' is a corpse of which the parts have been
scattered, or it is just a dismembered corpse and loathsome
from its abominable state. It is an equivalent term for a
corpse dismembered here and there, in one place a hand, in
another a leg, in a third place the head. ' Cut and dis-
membered thing ' is a corpse cut in pieces and dismembered
in the way just given, a name for a corpse cut by a knife
1 ltii:p8.vacara, 2 /)hs. § 263.
The Ten Foul Bases 265
in the limbs, big and small, dter the pattern of a crow's foot
[198] and dismembered in the above sense. ' Bloody thing '
is that which scatters, pours out blood, causing it to trickle
here and there---:an equivalent term for a corpse besmeared
with trickling blood. 'Worm-foul' is worm-infested. It
pours forth worms; hence a ~ame for a corpse full of worms.
' Bone ' refers to skeleton, or to its being loathsome from its
abominable state. It is an equivalent term both for a group
of bones linked like a chain, and for a single bone. ,
And these foul things are the names both of the marks (of
upholding and ·image of the mark1 ) arisen in dependence on
them, and also of the Jhanas obtained with reference to the
marks. Therein the perception arisen by way of ecstasy with
reference to the mark of a swollen corpse is the ' perception of
the swollen thing.' And ' accompanied by the perception of
the swollen thing ' is in the sense of association with such per-
ception. So for the perception of the other nine.
Whatever arrangement for practice should be said here has
been said in all respects in the Visuddhi Magga. 2 The re-
maining exposition of the text should be understood by the
method given above. But, as in the Divine State of equa-
nimity alone, by virtue of the Fourth Jhana, there are twenty-
five set~ of one, so here by virtue of the First Jhana in each
foul thing there are twenty-five sets of one. And the Jhana
having as its object the mark produced in a limited part of the
swollen _corpse should be understood as having a limited object
from its inability to develop th.e foul object; and that in respect
of a large portion of the swollen corpse should be understood
as having an infinite object. So for the remaining nine.
is.regarded in its intrinsic natur~ like a disguised ogre seen in his true
nature. Some read sarirasabhiiva-vipatti-vasena-' by virtue of the
false ~anifestation of the intrinsic nature of the body.'- Tr.
The Ten Foul Bases 267
being besmea~ed with blood, . is suitable for one lusting after
beauty produced by adornment. The worm-foul corpse, as
making clear the state of the body in common with val'ious
kinds of worms, is suitable for one lusting atter the idea that
the body is his own. The skeleton, as making clear the ahomin"
able state of the bones of the body, is suitable for one lusting
after the perfection of the teeth. Thus it should he understood
that the classification of the Foul has been declared to be ten-
fold also by means of the different kinds of lustful behaviour.
' And because, in this tenfold classification of the Foul, just
as in a river of swift current with flowing waters a boat is
steady by means of the rudder, and cannot stop without the
help of the rud~er, so from the weakness of the object1 the
mind is collected by the strength of initial application of mind,
without which it cannot be steady; therefore here is obtainable
the First Jhana (with initial application of mind), and not the
Second and other Jhanas. Though there is abomination, yet
because he has seen benefit in this foul object: " surely by
such progress I shall he freed from old age and death," and
because of the removal of the torments of the hindrances,
rapturous joy arises in him, like the flower-rubbish remover
[200] who feels joy over the rubbish heap in seeing benefit,
and thinks : " Now I shall get much wages," and like the sick
man at the alleviation of the misery. of sickness when vomit-
ing and purging.
' The foul thing, though tellfold, is one in characteristic,
which is t]le impure, evil-smelling, disgusting and abominable
state. Not only in the dead body does it appear with this
characteristic, but, as in the case of the Elder Mahatissa,
resident at Mount Cetiya, seeing the teeth of a laughing woman,
and of the 11ittendant novice of the Elder Sangharakkhita
looking up.at the king on an elephant's hack, it may also appear
in a living body. Indeed, the living body is as foul as the
dead body. But in the former the characteristic of the foul,
being covered by temporary adornments, does not appear.'
End of the Discoitrse on the Foul.
1 The inability of the object to draw the concentration of the mind
on itself owing to its abominable state is its weakness.-Pyi.
268 Risings of Consciousness
But is this all the ecstasy belonging to the [consciousness of
the] realm of attenuated matter, beginning with the earth-
device and ending in the perception of the skeleton ? Or is
there something more.? Yes, there is. There is the respiration-
Jhana, and the culture of mindfulness regard.ing the body,
which have not been spoken of here. Why not ? The respira-
tion-Jhana is included in the air-device; the culture of mindful-
ness regarding the body arisen by virtue of the fourfold and
fivefold Jhanas with reference to the hair, etc., is included
in the colour-devices; the mindfulness regarding the body
produced by virtue of the Jhanas attending to the abomina-
tion in the thirty-two parts of the body, and that of the Jhana
_a ttending to the colours of the nine1 sorts of corpses in the
charnel field is included in the ten foul things. Thus all
the ecstasies of [consciousness connected with] the realm of
attenuated matter have been included here.
End of the Discourse on moral consciousness of the realm of
attenuated matter.
1 As, one-day-old, two-day,old, etc.-Tr.
PART VI-MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE
IMMATERIAL WORLD
t The Path of 'the Never-Returner, for whom the five lower Fetters
are done away with.'-Points of Controversy, 74. The 'theory of indi-
viduality' or soul was the first Fetter.
2 PointtJ of Gootroversy, 331, quoting Anguttara v. 133-35.
3 Dialogues ii. 141 f. ' Vibhaiiga, p. 261 f.
272 Risings of OoMciousness
·the data -0f his mind and mental awareness, goes on in a field
. of diverse natute with reference to di:fference in sights, sounds
and so on. In the next place, there are forty-four [classes of
perceptions] which are mutually unlike, being diverse in their
intrinsic nature. These are the eight classes of moral percep-
·tions,1 the twelve immoral, the eleven of moral results, the
two of immoral results, and the eleven ' inoperative '-all of
'the realm of sensuous ex;Perience. And the 'entire inattention
to these perc,eption,<1 qf di:fference' implies not adverting to,
not considering, not reflecting upon. And because he does
not advert in mind to them, does not attend to, does not
reflect upon them, [203] therefore the expression [commented
on] was used.
And because the preceding perceptions of matter and of
impact do not exist in the immaterial plane pmdm;ed by this
jhana, much less in that plane at the time of abiding in the
attainment of this jhana, therefore is their non-existence
said thus to be due to the two causes r,f transcending and
dying out. But among the di:fferent perceptions, ·because
twenty-seven perceptions, to wit, eight mot.al perceptioih'l of
the sensuous realm, nine inoperative perceptions, ten immoral
perceptions exist in the plane produoed by this jhana, there-
fore the cause of not attending to them was mentioned. ~nd
because one abiding in the attainment of this jhana in that
plane of existence does so by not attendwg to those percep-
tions, one who attends to them has not attained the jhana.
Briefly, ' by passing beyond the perceptions of matter '
implies the removal of all states of the realm of attenuated
matter. ' By· the dying out of the perceptions· of impact,
by inattention to perceptions of di:fference,' implies the
removal of, and inattention to, all consciousness and mental
properties of the sensuous realm.
Thus by these three clauses :-trans(}ending the· perceptions
of matter, the dying out of the ten perceptions of impact, the
·not attending to the forty-four di:fferent perceptions, the
-Blessed One has spoken the praises of the attainment of the
1 As discussed above, Part IV., pp. 141 g. The remainder· are
discussed in succession below.
Moral 'Arupa' Consciousness 273
infinity of space. For what reason ? For the purpose of
rousing the audience to activity and to persuade them, lest
some unlearned people should say: ' The Teacher declared,
''Get the attainment of the infinity of space." But what
is the u13e, w}iat is the benefit of thisr To prevent
them from so speaking, he praised this attainment in such
wise. For they, hearing its praises extolled, will reflect thus:
' So calm, they say, is this attainment and so exalted; we will
get it.' Then they will endeavour to get it. And he has
praised it to them for the purpose of persuasion, like a dealer
in molasses [who is called a dealer] in' visaka:µtaka.' 1 He, it
is said, took in a cart hard molasses, soft molasses, lumps of
molasses, treacle, etc., went to the border village and shouted,
' Buy visaka:µtaka, buy visaka:µtaka ! ' (lit.: poison-thorn).
T:\le villagers, hearing him, shut the doors of their houses and
made the children run away, saying,' Poison is cruel; he who
eats it dies; a thorn pierces, kills you. Both are cruel; what
is the use of them r Seeing this circumstanoe, the merchant
thought, ' They are unskilled as to names in vogue, [204] these
villagers. I will make them buy the toffee by a stratagem.'
S<;> he shouted, ' Buy a very sweet thing, buy a very delicious
thing; hard molasses, soft molasses, treacle may be got at a
low price, even for bad farthings, for bad pennies,' etc.
Hell-ring him, the villagers, glad and delighted, came out and
bought them, giving him much money. Now here, like the
shout of the merchant's ' Buy visaka:µtaka ! ' is the saying
of the Blessed One, 'Produce the attainment of the infinity
of space' ; like the thought of the villagers: ' Both are cruel;
what is the use?' is the thought of the audience:-' The
Blessed One has told us to produce the sphere of the infinity
of space. What benefit is there? We d_o not know its merits.'
Then, like the words of the merchant, 'Buy a very sweet
thing,' etc., is the Blessed One's showing the benefit, beginning
with the transcending of the perceptions of matter. As the
. villagers giving much money and taking the molasses; so is
the thought:-by hearing of the benefit, those whose hearts
1 A name for a species of sugar; Abhidhanapadipika. Cf. our
' bu~l's eyes,' or the Lancashire equivalent 'humbugs.'-Ed.
274 Risings of Consciousness
have been persuaded will make a great endeavour to get this
attainment. Thus the Blessed One has spoken for the purpose
of producing endeavour and so as to persuade.
[Next we haye] 'accompanied by the space-infinitude-
realm-perception.' Here 'infinite' means 'it has .no end.'
'Space-infinitude realm' means realm of infinite space or of
infinitude of space, in the sense of abode of the associated
jhana, *like a spirit-realm of spirits. It is an equivalent term
for the space separated· off by the [space}device. 'Accom-
panied by the perception of the sphere of infinite space '
means accompanied by the perception which has reached
ecstasy with reference to infinite space as object. But the
words given elsewhere-' Infinite is space 1'1-are not included
here in reference to space as being either infinite or limited.
Why ? When it is infinite it cannot be taken to be limited,
when .limited it cannot be infinite. This being so, the fourfold
object would not be complete and the discourse would not be
sixteenfold. A:ud it was the Supreme Buddha's wish to
make the discourse in this place sixteenfold. Hence without
saying·' infinite' or 'limited' he said 'accompanied by the
perception of the sphere of the infinity of space.' Indeed,
by this expression, both the words are included, the fourfold
object is completed, and the discourse becomes sixteenfold.
The meaning of the remaining text should be understood as
said above.
And in this jhana, sorrow at the destruction of desire for
the Fourth Jhana of the realm of attenuated matter makes
[205] progress painful.2 Sluggishness of entrance into ecstasy,
on the part of one who has destroyed desire, makes intuition
sluggish. The reverse should be understood as easy progress
and quick intuition. And the jhana which arises in space
divided off by a limited device is called 'limited object,' that·
* A ktisiirw/iioo;
1 When this Jhana is stated as a stage of Deliverance (fourth in the
eight), the formula runs thus (instead of as in the Dhs.): 'thinking
"space is infinite!" he reache11 and remains in,' etc. Dialogues ii. 119.
Cf. B.P.E. 71, n.
2. Cf. above, p. 246, The Four Objects of Thought.'
Moral 'Arupa' Consciousness 275
which arises in space divided off by an extensive device is
called 'immeasurable object.' As in the divine state of
equanimity, so here also by virtue of the Fourth Jhana there
_are twenty-five sets of one, and as here, so also in the following
Jhanas. And we shall explain only what is specific in these
latter.
In the next stage, to the clause ' by passing beyond the
sphere of infinite space,' 1 the previous method should be
applied, showing both the realm of infinite space, in the sense
of abode, and the jhana to be so called. Both are united
in the one term, and show that by not proceeding with them,
by not attending to them, both the jhana and its object are
transcended, and he att.ains and abides in the sphere of
infinite consciousness.
In the clause 'accompanied by the perception of the
-0onsciousness-infinitude-sphere,' infinite means that in attend-
ing to it, one thinks there is no end to it. ' Infinitude' is just
' infinite.' Instead of using viii:iia'l!iimaiicarp, for ' conscious-
ness-infinitude,' the shorter term (viiiiiii'l!ii:iicarp,) has been
used, an instance of the elision of a syllable. This conscious-
ness is the.sphere, in the sense of abode, of this perception-
hence ' the sphere of infinite consciousness.' ' Accompanied
by the perception of the sphere of infinite consciousness '
means accompanied by the perception arising with reference
to that sphere of infinite consciousness. It is a name for the
jhana which has as its object consciousness as proceeding in
space. In this jhana, from the pain of the destruction of
desire for .the attainment of the sphere of infinite space,
progress should be understood as painful; from a sluggish
entrance into ecstasy on the part of one who has destroyed
one's desire, a sluggish intuition should be understood. The
reverse should be understood as easy progress and quick
intuition. ' Limitedness of the object' should be understood
as procedure with reference to attainment which has for its
object space divided off in a limited 'device'. The reverse
should be understood as the immeasurableness of object.
. The rest is the same as in the preceding Jhana.
1 Dh8. §.266:
276 Risings of Consciousness
In the clause:-' by passing beyond .the sphere of infinite
consciousness •1· the previous method should be applied,
showing both the sphere of infinite consciousness, in the sense
of abode, and the jhana to be so called. Both are uruted
in the one term, and [206] show that by not proceeding with
them, by not attending to them, both the jhana and its
object are transcended, and one attains and abides in the
sphere of nothingness.
In the clause ' accompanied by the percepti9n of the sphere
of nothingness,' here 'nothing' signifies 'there is nothing of
it.' The statement is, that not even disruption remains of it.
Nothingness is the state of having nothing left, an equivalent
term for the disappearanceof the consciousness of the sphere
of infinite space. ' Sphere of nothingness ' is the sphere, in
the sense of abode, of the perception of that nothingness.
' Accompanied by the perception of the sphere of nothing-
ness' means accompanied by the perception proceeding with
reference to that .sphere of nothingness, and is a name for the
jhii.na having as its object the disappearance of consciousness
proceeding with reference to space.
In this jhana, where there is pain from the destruction of
desire for the attainment of the sphere of infinite conscious-
ness, progress is painful; where there is sluggishness of entrance
into ecstasy· on the part of one who has destroyed one's
desire, intuition is sluggish. The reverse should be understood
as ea~y progress and quick intuition. 'Limitedness of object'
should be understood as being the object, the disappearance of
the consciousness proceeding with reference to space divided
off by a limited device. The reverse should be understood as
immeasurableness of object. The rest is the same as the frrst.
In the phrase:-' by passing beyond the sphere of nothing-
ness,'2 by applying the previous method, the jhana with the
sphere (in the sense of abode) of nothingness is shown to be
itself called the sphere of nothingness; so also, by the afore-
said method, is its object. Both are united in the one term,
and show that, by not proceeding with them, by not attending
to them, both the jhana and its object are transcended, and
1 Dks. § 267. 2 lb. § 268.
Moral 'Arupa ~ Consciousness 277
one attains and abides in the sphere of neither perception nor
non-perception.
In the clause:-' accompanied by the perception (idea) of
the sphere .of neither perception nor non-perception,' the
jhii.na is So called because of the real existence of such per-
ception. In or,der to show this perception and its progress*
arising in one who practises accordingly, the Vibhanga elabo-
rates the phrase, 'neither perceptual nor non-perceptual,'
and says that ' orie attends to the sphere of nothingness as
peace, [207] and cultivates the attainment of the residuum
of mental -0oeffi.cients; therefore it is said to be neither per-
ceptual nor non-petceptual.' 1 In that text the sentence
'attends . . . as peace' means that he attends to the sphere
of nothingness as peace from the peacefulness of the object,
thinking:--.! Verily this attainment is peace; since it will hold
with non-existence itself as its object.' If he attends to it
as peace, he is no longer in a state of desire for [further]
attainment when he would be thinking, ' How can I transcend
this 1' His mind· is co,nsidering its peace, but as to regarding,
contemplating, attending how ' I shall attain, I shall sustain,
I shall emerge from, I shall reflect upon [what I have gone
through],' he does nothing of all this. Why? Because the
sphere 0£ neither perception nor non-perception is more peace-
ful, more excellent than the sphere of nothingness. As a king
riding his elephant in great state, and going about the city
streets, might see craftsmen such as carvers in ivory, tightly
swathed in one garment, their heads covered with another,.
their limbs besprinkled with ivory dust, making various
forms out of. ivory, etc. And he, being pleased with their
skill, might say': ' 0 sirs, how clever are these masters who.can
do such things!' But the thought does not arise in him::
' Good indeed would it be were I to give up my kingdom and
become such a craftsman I' And why is that 1 Because of
the great advantage of the glory of kingship. Now just as the
king goes p~st the craftsmen, so although the aspirant attends
to that attainment as peace, he does riot consider, ponder,
attend thus: 'I will attain it, sustain it, emerge from it, reflect
• Ta1ft tava. 1 Vibh. 263. Cf. Sum. V. on D. ii. 69, § 33.
278 Risings of Consciousness
upon it.' Attending to it as peace by the previous method,
he arrives at exceedingly subtle perception with the attain-
ment of ecstasy. By means of that perception he becomes
neither perceptive nar non-perceptive. And he is said to have
cultivated the attainment of the residuum of mental co-
. efficients, that is, the fourth ' immateria.l' attainment of
mental coefficients of exceeding subtleness.
Now in order to show the meaning of that sphere of neither
perception nor non-perception, which by virtue of the thus
acquired perception is so called, the states of mind and mental
properties are here stated of one who has entered into that
sphere of consciousness, or of one who is born in that plane
of existence,1 or of one who lives in happiness under present
conditions. Of these three the states of mind and mental
properties of one who has entered on that conscious ex-
perience are here intended. The literal definition is that,
owing to the absence of gross perception and the presence
of subtle perception in this jhana, with its associated states,
there is neither perception nor is there the absence of percep-
tion. This jhana of neither perception nor non-perception
is [classed as] a sphere included in the [conscious] ' spheres '
of mind and of ideas, [208] hence the name ' sphere of neither .
perception nor non-perception.' Or, again, the perception
here is non-perceptual in so far as it is incapable of efiective
functioning; and owing to the presence of the subtle residuum
of mental coefficients it is not non-perceptual-hence 'neither
perception nor non-perception.' And 'sphere <;>£ neither
perception nor non-perception' means that it is a sphere in
the sense of abode ~f the remaining states.
And not only perception is of such a kind. Feeling also
is neither feeling nor non-feeling, consciousness also is neither
consciousness nor non-consciousness, contact also is neither
conta~t nor non-contact. It should be understood that this
discourse has been made with perception as representative
of the other associated states.
1 ' The four ' immaterial ' Jhanas were supposed to be tastes o_
f the
presumably normal consciousness experienced, respeC'tively, ·by one
reborn on the four planes of the immaterial worlds.-Ed.
Moral 'A1·upa; Consciousness 27~
1Dhs. §§ 269-76.
2 A 'buried city ' word-play only-pa-dhii.naiµ bhii.va111 ni.ta1Jl
pal}.ital!J..-Ed
284
Planes of Consciousness 285
[to-do]~ twelve are these four considered as low, medium and
exalted, in all twenty methods. Where are these twenty
great methods classified 1 They are classified in the chapter
entitled 'Low Triplet' of the Great Book. 1 And in this place,
taking the middle group from the Low Triplet, three portions
as low, medium, exalted should be made.. From these three,
excepting the middle group, and taking the low and the ·
exalted, sets of nine portions should be ·made. For in low
moral consciousness there are. low, medium, exalted; and in
the exalted moral consciousness there are low, medium,
exalted. Likewise in the low, .by low moral consciousness
there are low, medium, exalted; likewise in the low, by the
medium moral consciousness; and likewise in the low, by the
exalted moral consciousness. This is one set of nine.
In the exalted, hy low moral consciousness, there are also
low, medium, exalted; likewise in the exalted, by medium
inoral consciousness; and likewise in the exalted, by exalted
moral consciousness. Thii:i is the second set of nine. The
two sets make eighteen doors of action. 2 [213] From being
1 PaUhana. The ' Low Triplet ' is one of the chapters in the First
Book, or Tika-pa~~hana. -Ed.
2 In the :middle group of the Low Triplet those moral thoughts
which, with their results, are produced by way of gifts, etc., which
depend on the round of rebirths, are done as ' low '; those which.
with their results, are prod1tced by way of gifts, etc., whir.h depend on
the release from the round of rebirths, are. done .as 'exalted'; those
which give no Tesults are done as 'medium.' Of these three groups,
excepting the middle group, because of its not giving.results and taking
the other two, · nine kinds of moral consciousness certainly depending
on the mund of rebirths, and nine kinds depending on the release from
the round of rebirths, form eighteen doors of action. These actions
are also doors in the sense of being causes of the various results, hence
doors of actions. Or the ·Buddha has dedared the conf:lciousness in
various places to be so many doors of action; or the body-intimation,
etc., to be doors of action. And the eighteen princes should be known
according to tiheir actions to be the worthless nine from the· st?.ndpoint
of sanctity consisting of the ' low by the low ' trio, etc., and the worthy
nine consistin11: of the 'exalted by the exalted' trio, etc. Likewise
the priests, etc., and the devas. The forty-eight family customs are
their different· customs.~Tika.
Or, that which is done without reverence is low; that which is done
286 Risings of Consciousness ·
developed by, and by virtue of them, eighteen princes, eighteen
priests, eighteen merchants, eighteen workmen and forty-
eight family customs1 should be understood. But among these
three-planed moral thoughts, that of the realm of sense is
thrice-conditioned by way of association with and dissociation
from knowledge; it is also twice-conditioned; that of attenu-
ated matter and the immaterial realms is thrice-conditioned
only, and associated with knowledge. And of them the moral
consciousness of the sensuous realm arises, together with or
without the dominant influence; that of attenuated matter and
of the immaterial realm is replete with the dominant influence.
And of them, in the moral consciousness of the sensuous
realm, two dominant influences, viz.; object and co-existence,
are obtained; in the other two realms the dominant influ-
ence of object is not obtained, only that of co-existence is
obtained. In the text ' moral consciousness of the sensuous
realm arising . . . with the dominant influence of aware-
ness (citta ),' 2 - awareness as the dominant influence is said
by way of associated states. On the other hand, owing· to
the absence of the union of two types of consciousness,
~wareness cannot be the dominant influence of an associated
consciousness. And the same with desire, etc., as; dominant
influences.
with indifference is medium; that which is done with reverence is
exalted. Or, that which is done for the sake of some worldly gain is
lqw; out of a desire for a meritorious result is me.dium; from ·a sense of
propriety by one established in Ariyanship is exalted. Or that which
occurs through lust for the fulfilment of existence is low; out of a desire
for ab~ence of greed is medium; for the good of others is exalted. A
limited moral consciousness is low; that which is done by measure is
medium; that which is done in excess is exalted. The moral conscious-
ness which is just obtainable among the sublime morals is low; that
-which has not been exceedingly well cultivated is medium; that which
is well cult.ivated and acquired by men of control is exalted.-Ami~ilca.
1 Leaving out the low by the medium trio from the set of nine begin-
ning with the low by the low trio, a set of six is obtained. Leaving
out the exalted by the medium trio from the set of nine. beginning with
the exalted by the exalted trio, a set of six fa obtained. These two give
12, which with the 4 'castes ' make 48 family customs.-Tr.
a Dhs. § 269.
Planes of Consciousness 287
But if morality arises in one who is aware and who,
making any consciousness the principal, the chief, has put
forth another moral consciousness:-' it will arise in me,'
sonie hold that his first consciousness should be called the
dominant influence of awareness, and the second, as coming
from such dominant influence, should be said to be domin-
.a ted by it. This method, however, does not appear in
the Text, .nor in the Commentary. Hence the state of being
the dominant influence is to be un51erstood by the method
given.
In these nineteen main methods are the types of conscious-
ness of the extent given in the first main niethod, as formulated,
with the sets ,of nine and the sections of the text. Therefore
among the types of consciousness ' associated with knowledge'
accordl.ng to .the extent given, the twentyfold classification
of ' consciousness,' ' set of nine,' ' section ' should be under-
stood. Among the four types ' dissociated from knowledge,'
the sixteenfold classification of the same should be reckoned.
Tl;tis. is known as .the Particular Discourse on the moral con-
sciouness of the three planes.
End of ' Mor,al, Consciousness as . Three· planed.'
APPENDIX
SOME PALI WORDS DISCUSSED IN THE COMMENTARIES
(Indicated by an asterisk in the Translation. The figure[! in
brackets refer to the page of the Expositor)