English
When transcendental and sublime classes of consciousness are taken together, in the i i classes of ist stage of Jhana there are 38 mental concomitants, in the ii classes of 2nd stage of Jhana there are 37, in the 1 1 classes of 3rd stage of Jhana 36, in the II classes of 4th stage of Jhana 35, and in the 23 classes of 5th stage of Jhana 33. In transcendental consciousness belonging to the path of stream-attainment, the four immoral classes of consciousness connected with error, and that connected with perplexity or doubt will never arise, as the three fetters of error, rite and ritualism and perplexity have been completely extinguished by attaining the stream. The remaining seven classes of immoral consciousness have not the energy to cause rebirth in any of the planes of misery. In those who have attained the path of once returning, the four classes of immoral consciousness disconnected from error and the two rooted in aversion or hate have not the energy to give rebirth in kamalaka as beggars and others of low status. By the path of never-returning the two immoral classes of consciousness rooted in aversion or hate are completely destroyed^ and the two fetters of sense desires and ill-will also are destroyed. The four classes of immoral consciousness rooted m greed and disconnected from error are so attentuated as to prevent any attachment to sense desires. 142 By the Path of Arahatship the four classes of immoral con- sciousness disconnected from error and that class conjoined with distraction are completely eradicated, together with the remain- ing five fetters viz desire for Rupaloka, desire for Arupaloka, conceit, restlessness and ignorance. Immediately followmg the paths are the fruits. Two states of consciousness regarding the fruits take place in those of very high intelligence and three with the less intelligent ones. In all the three worlds there is no greater happiness enjoyed than the fruits derived from the paths, for with this human body the bliss of Nibbana could be realised. There are no ineffective classes of consciousness connected with transcendental states. The path lasts for one thought moment only and at that time the fetters and torments that should be annihilated by the particular path are done. It is like a tree that has been completely destroyed by lightning. It does not need to be struck again with liglitning to prevent the growth. Similarly, as some of the classes of immoral consciousness and the torments are completely exterminated by the different paths, they never arise again. Just as a man in possession of any article that gives him pleasure and happiness could enjoy that sensation every time he looks at it, even so could the Ariya who has attained the Paths and Fruits get into ecstasy when- ever he desires (phala samapatti OQ fi0)3OC5©). The series of states of consciousness in ecstasy are not ineffective classes. Although the number of Path-consciousness is four according to the Path which it is associated with, when reckoned under the three channels of emancipation, such as empty-release (sunriata gi^63^CO\ signless release (animitta qptSStSio) and not-hankered-after-release (appanihita <|p',^€R^tS>) and practices and so on they become innumerable. HOW TRANSCENDENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS BECOMES INNUMERABLE The path consciousness in stream attainment becomes eight in number, when it is reckoned as two by way of empty-release and not-hankeied-after-release and multiplied by the four kinds of practices viz. 143 • (i) Unhappy practice with delayed realisation (2) unhappy practice with undelayed realisation (3) happy practice with delayed reahsation and (4) happy practice with undelayed realisation. These eight together with the two classes of empty-release and not hankered-after-release make in all ten classes of Path- consciousness in stream-attainment. These 10 become 190 when multiplied by 19 adjuncts present in them. They are (i) contemplation of body (z) right effort (3) steps to Iddhi Potency (4) controlling power or faculty (5) force (6) factors pertaining to enlightenment (7) truth (8) calm (9) insight (10) supra-mundane state (i i) aggregate (12) senses (13) element {14) food (15) contact (16) feeling (17) perception (18) volition and (19) consciousness or mind. When to these 190 previously stated 10 classes of path consciousness are added, they become 200. These 200 become 800 when reckoned by way of the four steps to Iddhi Potency viz (1) desire to do (2) mind (3) consciousness and (4) investigation. When to these 800 the previously stated 200 which are not controlled by the dominating influences are added, they become looo. These 1000 classes of path consciousness are obtained by 1000 Ariyas, and no single person can obtain any two of these. The stream winner is said to attain the path in 1000 ways, according to the above manner of calculation. The paths leading to once-returning, never-returning and Arahatship, similarly obtain 1000 ways each. Therefore, there are 4000 ways taking the tour paths together. These 4000 become 20,000 when reckoned by the five ways of purification viz (i) elimination of some of the Torments not associated with craving bv the eight factors of the Noble Path (2) departure from the three root causes of immoral con- sciousness (3) departure from the immoral classes of consciousness (4) departure from the four Asavas such as sense desires and so on (5) departure from the mental concomitants associated with the four Asavas. Again, when these 4000 classes of path consciousness are multiplied by the five factors of Jhana present in the first stage of Rupaldka Jhana, they become again 20,000. 144 • Further, these 4000 classes of Path-consciousness, when reckoned in consideration of the factors of Jhana being always present when developed, become another 20,000. Of these three ways of reckoning, the second way, in which only the factors of Jhana are present, applies to the sukkha vipassaka (pgss© SCCOOCS), one attaining the path without developing the Jhanas. Ihe third way is applied to those who practised exercises in calm and developed the Jhanas (Samathayanika c: ^c^cCasS^tJ)). Therefore, in all 60,000 classes of consciousness are obtamed in the four Paths, according to Sacca Vibhanga. Just as a person standing in front of a mirror sees the various constituents of his body in the image, so would the four Fruits of the four Paths have 60,000 classes of consciousness. Therefore, 1 20,000 classes are obtained in the four paths and four Fruits. When the 120,000 are reckoned according to time and places the number becomes innumerable and mcalculable. HOW TRANSCENDENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS BECOMES FORTY CLASSES Agaui, the four Paths and the four Fruits become 20 Paths and 20 Fruits, when reckoned according to the five factors of Jhana. This is how the 8q classes of consciousness become 121. How does this occur ? Of the three methods of developing Jhana, as transcendental consciousness resembles any one of them, in respect of the five factors of Jhana, the eight classes of trans- cendental consciousness become forty. ATTAINMENT OF PATH FROM JHANA The sub-commentary states as follows: — ** pathamajjhanadlsu yan yan jhanan samapajjitva tato tato vutthaya sankhare sammasantassa vutthana gamini vipassana pavatta tan padakaj jhanan nama " tS'<z^i gdb)Ge ooo2o@d cc ^' a C55S5 coo gdbjaa 551I2S Sccass M5 when an individual, practising mental culture and concentration, develops any one of the five Jhanas, he mamtains it for any length of time he desires and on awaking from same contemplates all conditioned phenomena as impermanent, sorrowful, and lacking a personal entity. When he has come to full maturity of insight, reflection by way of the mind-door suspends the life-continuum and two or three states of con- sciousness revealing insight concerning any one of the three salient marks occur by name of 'preparation', 'approximation' and 'qualification.' That "knowledge of things as something concerning which to feel indifference" which, when its climax is reached^ is coupled with the "knowledge by which one qualifies oneself for the Path" is also described as "Insight that leads to emergence." After this, the consciousness of the initiate leaning upon Nibbana occurs, over mastering kinship with the worldly and evolving kinship with the Ariyas.