English
HOW CLASSES OF CONSCIOUSNESS ROOTED IN NESCIENCE ARISE The commentary Atthasalini states '* chasu arammanesu vedana vasena majjhattassa kankha pavatti kale uppajjati " (5q Cf3d®2)®C3 ®©;iOD©®as;> ©ct^tstrcec^j 80S)a)j ObtS><9 ta53<©C5 C^O^^)- Whenever perplexity or doubt arises accompanied by a neutral sensation in regard to the six objects such as visual object and so on, then that conscious- ness is known as that which is accompanied by indifference and conjoined with perplexity or doubt. As the commentary Atthasalini states, ** idan cittan chasu arammanesu vedanadi vasena majjhattan hutva uddhatan h5ti ^-SiSj C®^ ®33S). Whenever distraction or restlessness accompanied by a neutral sensation arises in respect of the six objects such as visual object and so on, that conscious- ness IS known as that which is accompanied by indifference and conjoined with distraction or restlessness. ii8 Of these two classes the first one conjoined with perplexity or doubt has the potency to cause rebirth in the four planes of misery and resultant effects during the span of life, and in the seven planes of fortunate sense experience, only the resultant effects during existence. The second one conjoined with distraction or restlessness is incapable of giving rebirth in any plane, but, nevertheless, it causes resultant effects in planes of misery or those of fortunate sense-experience. Of these 12 classes of immoral consciousness, 8 are rooted in lust or greed and nescience, 2 are rooted in hate or aversion .and nescience and 2 have only one root namely nescience. Whenever consciousness rooted in lust or greed arises, the face <:hanges colour becoming red like a very ripe nuga fruit (^ banyan), when one rooted in hate or aversion arises, the face becomes dark like a ripe jambu fruit. Whenever one rooted in nescience arises the face becomes the colour of sesame oil. Therefore from one's physiognomy, the type of consciousness could be -ascertained. IMMORAL RESULTANT CLASSES UNACCOMPANIED BY HETUS Out of the 18 classes of consciousness unaccompanied by hetus ^®K25) 7 classes of immoral resultants are obtained from each of the 12 classes of immoral consciousness by way of result or effect. In the event of any action being done by the first class of immoral consciousness accompanied by joy and <:onnected with error, it would cause rebirth m the tour planes •of misery and give rise to resultant effects during the span of life, and in planes of fortunate sense-experience, only resultant effects. How does it do so ? Of the seven classes of immoral resultants, that investigating class of consciousness accompanied by neutral sensation upekkha sahagata santirana cittan C®^^5€)i C0QS5aoda a -5565 ^-^^J Sfr05o), having obtained asynchronous voli- Xions from the correlation of kamma belonging to the immoral consciousness, arises in the four planes of misery by way of rebirth. Thereafter, when hideous looking and unpleasant objects such i I 19 as figures and fires are seen, eye cognition arises through the eye- door by way of effect, immediately following and contiguous to it by way of receiving the objects immoral resultant called the recipient consciousness, next following and contiguous to- it by way of investigating the objects the first investigating consciousness, which appeared as rebirth consciousness, arises- now functioning as investigating consciousness. Similarly, when unpleasant words are heard such as " assault, kill " and other harsh and abusive language, auditory conscious- ness resulting from immoral deeds arises, and similarly the remaining ones, for instance, immoral resultant of olfactory con- sciousness arises when abominable and offensive smell which is unbearable comes within the avenue of the organ of sense, and in like manner immoral resultant of gustatory consciousness arises when the unhappy and miserable beings are laid on their backs, mouths opened with huge iron bars, and boiling water and red hot iron balls are placed to be drunk and eaten respectively. Again immoral resultant of tactile cognition accompanied by pain arises when they are placed on red hot iron floors and divided into fours, eights, and sixteens, or placed in red hot iron conveyances and assaulted with thorny sticks and taken to the angara pabbata (charcoal rock). BASE OF EYE CONSCIOUSNESS What is the base that eye consciousness depends on ? Of the two^ the eye-ball which is formed of the four great essentials in which the element of extension predominates, and the sensi- tive material quality of the eye which is a material quality derived from the four great essentials, the eye consciousness arises depending on the eye base or the sensitive material quality of the eye. The eye-ball is a physical substance or matter formed from the four great material qualities in the ultimate and highest sense. Together with colour, taste, smell and nutritive essence, the eight are called inseparables. Therefore it will be seen that even what is known as matter in the highest and ultimate sense IS constituted of the eight inseparables which are only qualities.. The sensitive material quality of the eye is a material quality derived from the four great essentials which originated in this existence in the body as a result of a moral act in kamaloka in a previous existence such as the, offering of a visual object ( I20 through craving for visual objects. This sensitive material ■quality exists diffused through the seven membranes like sesame oil filtered through seven layers of cotton, behind the region of the pupil in the cornea surrounded by the sclerotic. When the sensitive material quality of the eye is rolled into a ball it is of the size of the head of a louse. Whenever a visual object appears in front of the sensitive material quality, the eye con- sciousness originating from this base perceives the sense impres- sion. In this sensitive material quality there is a group (kalapa (53:3) of ten, formed of the eight inseparables, sensitive material quality of the eye and psychic life, which is known as the 'eye- decad.' BASE OF AUDITORY CONSCIOUSNESS What is the base on which auditory consciousness depends ? It depends on the sensitive material qualit)' of the ear, which is derived from the four great material qualities that exist in the internal ear as the result of giving owing to craving for sounds by way of charity sounds in a previous existence. Inside the external ear, that is in the internal ear, there exists a very fine and delicate hair resembling a copper coloured ring in which the sensitive material quality^ of the ear exists in a state of diffusion like oil. The auditory consciousness which arises depending on this base perceives sounds. This base is con- stituted of the eight inseparables, sensitive material quality of the ear, and vital force which form a group known as the *ear- decad.' BASE OF OLFACTORY CONSCIOUSNESS What is the base on which olfactory consciousness depends ? It depends on the sensitive material quality of the nose derived from the four great essentials that exist in the body as a result of the performance of a moral act in a previous existence by way of offering sweet scents owing to craving for smell. Inside the nose a state of oil is present diffused through resembling the shape of a goat's hoof. Olfactory consciousness depending on this base arises whenever a good or bad smell comes within its avenue, and perceives the impression of smell. This base which is formed of the eight inseparables, sensitive material quality of smell and vital force constitute a group known as ' nose- <decad.' • 121 BASE OF GUSTATORY CONSCIOUSNESS What is the base on which gustatory consciousness depends ? It depends on the sensitive material quality of the tongue derived from the four great essentials existing in the body as the result of the performance of a moral act in a previous existence, such as giving sapids by way of charity, owing to craving for sapids. In the middle of the tongue there exists diffused through a site resembling the end of a lotus flower the sensitive material quality of the tongue resembling oil. Gustatory consciousness depending on this arises whenever any taste comes in contact with the tongue, and perceives the impression of taste. This base which is formed of the eight inseparables, sensitive material quality of the tongue and vital force constitute the group known as * tongue-decad.