temperature, heat, is identical with the heat-element (tejodha^tu, q.v.).
samuttha^na (- utuja)-rúpa: ”corporeality produced by temperature”; s. samuttha^na.
san~n~a^ (°citta, °ditthi): ”perception (consciousness, view) of an ego”, is one of the 4 perversions (vipalla^sa, q.v.).
ditthi (-va^da): ”ego-belief”, ”personality-belief”, s. ditthi.
ways liberated, s. ubhato-bha^ga-vimutta, ariyapuggala B. 4.
maha^ra^jika deva a class of heavenly beings of the sensuous sphere; s. deva.
(lit.”going”): ”course of existence”, destiny, destination."There are 5 courses of existence: hell, animal kingdom, ghost realm, human world, heavenly world" (D. 33; A. XI, 68). Of these, the first 3 count as woeful courses (duggati, s. apa^ya), the latter 2 as happy courses (sugati).
and hatelessness: (dosa, adosa) are two of the 6 karmical roots (múla, q.v.) or root-conditions (hetu; paccaya 1).
”cause”, condition, reason; (Abhidhamma) root-condition. In sutta usage it is almost synonymous with paccaya, ”condition”, and often occurs together with it (”What is the cause, what is the condition”, ko hetu ko paccayo).
In Abhidhamma, it denotes the wholesome and unwholesome roots (múla, q.v.). In that sense, as ”root-condition” (hetu-paccaya; s. paccaya), it is the first of the 24 conditions given in the introduction to the Pattha^na (s. Guide, p. 117). The Dhs (1052-1082) and Pattha^na (Duka-patth; Guide, p. 144) have sections on roots (hetu). - The term is also used (a) for the classification of consciousness, as sa-hetuka and a-hetuka, with and without concomitant root-conditions; (b) for a division of rebirth consciousness into ahetuka, dvihetuka and tihetuka, without, with 2, or with 3 root-conditions (s. patisandhi).
Ahetuka-ditthi, the false view of the uncausedness of existence; s. ditthi.
s. ra^ga.
eating. Just as the karmical, i.e. moral, quality of any action is determined by the quality of volition (cetana^) underlying it, and independently of this volition nothing whatever can be called karmically wholesome or unwholesome (kusala, akusala), just so it is with the merely external act of meat-eating, this being as such purely non-moral, i.e. karmically neutral (avya^kata).
”In 3 circumstances meat-eating is to be rejected: if one has seen, or heard, or suspects (that the animal has been slaughtered expressly for one”s own sake)" (M. 55). For if in such a case one should partake of the meat, one would as it were approve the murder of animals, and thus encourage the animal-murderer in his murderous deeds. Besides, that the Buddha never objected, in ordinary circumstances, to meat-eating may be clearly understood from many passages of the Suttas (e.g. A. V. 44; VIII, 12; M. 55, etc.), as also from the Vinaya, where it is related that the Buddha firmly rejected Devadatta”s proposal to forbid meat-eating to the monks; further from the fact that 10 kinds of meat were (for merely external reasons) forbidden to the monks, namely from elephants, tigers, serpents, etc.
See Amagandha Sutta (Sn.). Early Buddhism and the Taking of Life, by I. B. Horner (WHEEL 104).
knowledge, the 4 kinds of: s. visuddhi (VII).
result (fruition): phala (q.v.).
and not path, the knowledge and vision regarding: s. visuddhi (V).
(Sanskrit preta): lit.”departed spirit”, ghost; s. loka.
”mindfulness”, is one of the 5 spiritual faculties and powers (s. bala), one of the 7 factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.), and the 7th link of the 8-fold Path (magga, q.v.), and is, in its widest sense, one of those mental factors inseparably associated with all karmically wholesome (kusala, q.v.) and karma-produced lofty (sobhana) consciousness (Cf. Tab. II). - For the 4 foundations of mindfulness s. foll.
low: tiraccha^na-katha^ (q.v.).
the 4: gantha (q.v.).
Living under a tree is one of the ascetical practices (dhutanga, q.v.).
s. kala^pa, rúpa-kala^pa.
the 4 ”wrong paths”...
the 4 ”wrong paths” are:
the path of greed (chanda),
of hate,
of delusion,
of cowardice (bhaya).
"One who is freed from evil impulses is no longer liable to take the wrong path of greed, etc.”” (A.IV.17; A.IX.7).
”Deathlessness”...
(Sanskrit amrta; ? mr to die; = Gr. ambrosia): ”Deathlessness”
according to popular belief also the gods” drink conferring immortality, is a name for Nibba^na (s. Nibba^na), the final liberation from the wheel of rebirths, and therefore also from the ever-repeated deaths .
”self, ego, personality, is in Buddhism a mere conventional expression (voha^radesana^), and no designation for anything really existing; s. paramattha-desana^, anatta^, puggala, satta, ji^va.
”mind”, ”consciousness”, ”state of consciousness”, is a synonym of mano (q.v.) and vin~n~a^na (s. khandha and Tab. 1). Dhs. divides all phenomena into consciousness (citta), mental concomitants (cetasika, q.v.) and corporeality (rúpa).
In adhicitta, ”higher mentality”, it signifies the concentrated, quietened mind, and is one of the 3 trainings (s. sikkha^). The concentration (or intensification) of consciousness is one of the 4 roads to power (s. iddhipa^da).
vi^thi, as well as all terms for the various functions within the processes of conseiousness, such as a^vajjana-citta, sampaticchana, santi^rana, votthapana, javana, tada^rammana, bhavanga, cuti: none of these terms is found in the Sutta Canon. except javana, in Pts.M. Even in the Ahh. Canon (e.g. Patth) only javana and bhavanga are twice or thrice briefly mentioned. The stages, however, must have been more or less known. Cf. e.g Patth: ””Cakkhu-vin~n~a^nam tam sampayuttaka^ ca dhamma^ (= cetasika^) mano-dha^tuya^ (performing the sampaticchana-function), tam sampayuttaka^nan~ ca dhamma^nam (cetasika^nani) anantara-paccayena paccayo. Mano-dha^tu ... manovin~n~a^na-dha^tuya (performing the santi^rana and votthapana function).... Purima^ purima^ kusala^ dhamma^ (javana^) pacchima^nam pacchima^nam kusala^nam dhamma^nam (javanacitta^nam) anantara-paccayena paccayo... avya^kata^nam dhamma^nam (tada^rammana- and bhavanga-citta^nam....)."
cuti-citta: s. citta-vi^thi.
kamman~n~ata^, °lahuta^, °muduta^, °pagun~n~ata^, °passaddhi, °ujukata^; s. Tab. II.
lahuta^, -mudúta, -kamman~n~ata^, -pa^gun~n~ata^, -ujukata^: s. lahuta^.
marana (q.v.) - Contemplation of °: marana^nussati (q.v.) - As divine messenger: deva-dúta (q.v.).
skeptical: vicikiccha^ (q.v.), kankha^ (q.v.).
saddha^ (q.v.).
devotee and faith liberated one: s. ariyapuggala (B).
man, the 8 thoughts of a: maha^purisa-vitakka (q.v.).
”birth”, comprises the entire embryonic process beginning with conception and ending with parturition.
"The birth of beings belonging to this or that order of beings, their being born, their conception (okkanti) and springing into existence, the manifestation of the groups (corporeality, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness; s. khandha), the acquiring of their sensitive organs: this is called birth" (D. 22). For its conditioning by the prenatal karma-process (kamma-bhava; s. bhava), s. paticcasamuppa^da (9, 10), patisandhi.
perception of: s. a^loka-san~n~a^.
the 4 streams of: pun~n~a-dha^ra^ (q.v.). - For transference of merit, s. patti-da^na.
(in the Arahat): s. hasituppa^da-citta.
rapture, enthusiasm (rendered also by joy, happiness); interest it is one of the mental factors or concomitants (cetasika) and belongs to the group of mental formations (sankha^ra-kkhandha). As, in sutta texts, it is often linked in a compound word. with ”gladness” (pa^mojja) or ”happiness” (sukha), some Western translations have wrongly taken it as a synonym of these two terms. Pi^ti, however, is not a feeling or a sensation, and hence does not belong to the feeling-group (vedana^-kkhandha), but may be described psychologically as ”joyful interest”. As such it may be associated with wholesome as well as with unwholesome and neutral states of consciousness.
A high degree of rapture is characteristic of certain stages in meditative concentration, in insight practice (vipassana^) as well as in the first two absorptions (jha^na, q.v.). In the latter it appears as one of the factors of absorption (jha^nanga; s. jha^na) and is strongest in the 2nd absorption. Five degrees of intensity in meditative rapture are described in Vis.M. IV. 94ff. It is one of the factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.).
understanding (or r. view), r. thought, etc.: s. magga.
”living being”. This term, just like atta^, puggala, ji^va, and all the other terms denoting ”ego-entity”, is to be considered as a merely conventional term (voha^ra-vacana), not possessing any reality-value. For the impersonality of all existence. s. anatta^, paramattha, puggala, ji^va, satta, paticcasamuppa^da.
middha, s. ni^varana.
1.”round”, 2.”round of rebirths”.
(1) With reference to the dependent origination (paticcasamuppa^da, q.v.), Vis.M. XVII speaks of 3 rounds: the karma round (kamma-vatta) comprising the karma-formations and the karmaprocess (2nd and 10th links); the round of defilements (kilesa-vatta) comprising ignorance, craving and clinging (1st, 8th and 9th links); the round of results (vipa^ka-vatta) comprising consciousness, mind and corporeality, 6 bases, impression, feeling (3rd-7th links). Cf. paticcasamuppa^da (diagram).
(2) round of rebirth = samsa^ra (q.v.).
kasina, white-k., wind-k.: s. kasina.
karma (q.v.) - Right bodily a.: samma^-kammanta; s. sacca (IV.4)
and arahatta magga, phala: s. ariya-puggala.
”the unworried”, is the name of a class of deities (s. deva,) inhabiting the first of the five Pure Abodes (suddha^va^sa, q.v.), in which the Ana^ga^mi^ (q.v.) has his last rebirth.
deliverance through the perception of: cf. vimokkha (II. 3) To hold for beautiful or pure (subha) what is impure (asubha), is one of the 4 perversions (s. vipalla^sa).
ra^ga-c., dosa-c., buddhi-c., etc., are only to be met with in the Com. and Vis.M.
”nature, character”. In Vis.M. III there are explained six types of men: the greedy-natured (ra^ga-carita), the hate-natured (dosa-carita), the stupid or dull-natured (moha-carita), the faithful-natured (saddha^-carita), the intelligent-natured (buddhi-carita), the ruminating-natured (vitakka-carita). - (App.).
”elements”, are the ultimate constituents of a whole.
(1) The 4 physical elements (dha^tu or maha^-bhúta), popularly called earth, water, fire and wind, are to be understood as the primary qualities of matter. They are named in Pa^li: pathavi^-dha^tu, a^po-dha^tu, tejo-dha^tu, and va^yo-dha^tu. In Vis.M. XI, 2 the four elements are defined thus: "Whatever is characterized by hardness (thaddha-lakkkhana) is the earth or solid-element; by cohesion (a^bandhana) or fluidity, the water-element; by heating (paripa^cana), the fire or heat-element; by strengthening or supporting (vitthambhana), the wind or motion-element. All four are present in every material object, though in varying degrees of strength. If, for instance, the earth element predominates, the material object is called ”solid”, etc. - For the analysis of the 4 elements, s. dha^tu-vavattha^na.
(II) The 18 physical and mental elements that constitute the conditions or foundations of the process of perception, are:
1. visual organ (eye) 9. gustative object
2. auditory organ (ear) 10. body-impression
3. olfactory organ (nose) 11. eye-consciousness
4. gustatory organ (tongue) 12. ear-consciousness
5. tactile organ (body) 13. nose-consciousness
6. visible object 14. tongue-consciousness
7. sound or audible object 15. body-consciousness
8. odour or olfactive object
16. mind-element 17. mind-object
(mano-dha^tu) (dhamma-dha^tu)
18. mind-consciousness-element
(mano-vin~n~a^na-dha^tu)
1-10 are physical; 11-16 and 18 are mental; 17 may be either physical or mental. - 16 performs the function of advertence (a^vajjana) towards the object at the inception of a process of sensuous consciousness; it further performs the function of receiving (sampaticchana) the sensuous object. 18 performs, e.g., the function of investigation (santi^rana), determining (votthapana) and registering (tada^rammana) - (for its other functions, s. Table I). For the 14 functions of consciousness, s. vin~n~a^na-kicca.
Cf. M. 115; S. XIV and especially Vibh. II (Guide p. 28f), Vis.M. XV, 17ff.
Of the many further groupings of elements (enumerated in M. 115), the best known is that of the 3 world-elements: the sensuous world (ka^ma-dha^tu), the fine-material world (rúpa-dha^tu), the immaterial world (arúpa-dha^tu); further the sixfold group: the solid, liquid, heat, motion, space, consciousness (pathavi^, a^po, tejo, va^yo, a^ka^sa, vin~n~a^na; s. above I), described in M. 140; see also M. 112.
(lit.”sight”; ? dis, to see): view, belief, speculative opinion, insight. If not qualified by samma^, ”right”, it mostly refers to wrong and evil view or opinion, and only in a few instances to right view, understanding or insight (e.g. ditthi-ppatta, q.v.; ditthi-visuddhi, purification of insight; ditthi-sampanna, possessed of insight).
Wrong or evil views (ditthi or miccha^-ditthi) are declared as utterly rejectable for being a source of wrong and evil aspirations and conduct, and liable at times to lead man to the deepest abysses of depravity, as it is said in A. I, 22:
"No other thing than evil views do I know, o monks, whereby to such an extent the unwholesome things not yet arisen arise, and the unwholesome things already arisen are brought to growth and fullness. No other thing than evil views do I know, whereby to such an extent the wholesome things not yet arisen are hindered in their arising, and the wholesome things already arisen disappear. No other thing than evil views do I know, whereby to such an extent human beings at the dissolution of the body, at death, are passing to a way of suffering, into a world of woe, into hell." Further in A. I, 23: "Whatever a man filled with evil views performs or undertakes, or whatever he possesses of will, aspiration, longing and tendencies, all these things lead him to an undesirable, unpleasant and disagreeable state, to woe and suffering."
From the Abhidhamma (Dhs) it may be inferred that evil views, whenever they arise, are associated with greed (s. Tab. I. 22, 23, 26, 27).
Numerous speculative opinions and theories, which at all times have influenced and still are influencing mankind, are quoted in the sutta-texts. Amongst them, however, the wrong view which everywhere, and at all times, has most misled and deluded mankind is the personality-belief, the ego-illusion. This personality-belief (sakka^ya-ditthi), or ego-illusion (atta-ditthi), is of 2 kinds: eternity-belief and annihilation-belief.
Eternity-belief (sassata-ditthi) is the belief in the existence of a persisting ego-entity, soul or personality, existing independently of those physical and mental processes that constitute life and continuing even after death.
Annihilation-belief (uccheda-ditthi), on the other hand, is the belief in the existence of an ego-entity or personality as being more or less identical with those physical and mental processes, and which therefore, at the dissolution at death, will come to be annihilated. - For the 20 kinds of personality-belief, see sakka^ya-ditthi.
Now, the Buddha neither teaches a personality which will continue after death, nor does he teach a personality which will be annihilated at death, but he shows us that ”personality”, ”ego”, ”individual”, ”man”, etc., are nothing but mere conventional designations (voha^ra-vacana) and that in the ultimate sense (s. paramattha-sacca) there is only this self-consuming process of physical and mental phenomena which continually arise and again disappear immediately. - For further details, s. anatta^, khandha, paticcasamuppa^da.
"The Perfect One is free from any theory (ditthigata), for the Perfect One has seen what corporeality is, and how it arises and passes away. He has seen what feeling ... perception ... mental formations ... consciousness are, and how they arise and pass away. Therefore I say that the Perfect One has won complete deliverance through the extinction, fading away, disappearance, rejection and casting out of all imaginings and conjectures, of all inclination to the ”vain-glory of ”I” and ”mine." (M. 72).
The rejection of speculative views and theories is a prominent feature in a chapter of the Sutta-Nipa^ta, the Atthaka-Vagga.
The so-called ”evil views with fixed destiny” (niyata-miccha^ditthi) constituting the last of the 10 unwholesome courses of action (kammapatha, q.v.), are the following three: (1) the fatalistic ”view of the uncausedness” of existence (ahetukaditthi), (2) the view of the inefficacy of action” (akiriyaditthi), (3) nihilism (natthikaditthi).
(1) was taught by Makkhali-Gosa^la, a contemporary of the Buddha who denied every cause for the corruptness and purity of beings, and asserted that everything is minutely predestined by fate.
(2) was taught by Púrana-Kassapa, another contemporary of the Buddha who denied every karmical effect of good and bad actions: "To him who kills, steals, robs, etc., nothing bad will happen. For generosity, self-restraint and truthfulness, etc. no reward is to be expected."
(3) was taught by Ajita-Kesakambali, a third contemporary of the Buddha who asserted that any belief in good action and its reward is a mere delusion, that after death no further life would follow, that man at death would become dissolved into the elements, etc.
For further details about these 3 views, s. D. 2, M. 60; commentarial exposition in WHEEL 98/99, P. 23.
Frequently mentioned are also the 10 antinomies (antaga^hika^ miccha^-ditthi): ”Finite is the world” or ”infinite is the world”...”body and soul are identical” or ”body and soul are different” (e.g. M. 63).
In the Brahma^jala Sutta .(D.1), 62 false views are classified and described, comprising all conceivable wrong views and speculations about man and world.
See The All-Embracing Net of Views (Brahma^jala Sutta), tr. with Com. by Bhikkhu Bodhi (BPS).
Further s. D. 15, 23, 24, 28; M. 11, 12, 25, 60, 63, 72, 76, 101, 102, 110; A. II, 16; X, 93; S. XXI, XXIV; Pts.M. Ditthikatha^,. etc.
Wrong views (ditthi) are one of the proclivities (s. anusaya), cankers (s. a^sava), clingings (s. upa^da^na), one of the three modes of perversions (s. vipalla^sa). Unwholesome consciousness (akusala citta), rooted in greed, may be either with or without wrong views (ditthigata-sampayutta or vippayutta); s. Dhs.; Tab I.
On right view (samma^-ditthi), s. magga and M. 9 (Trans. with Com. in ”R. Und.”).
knowing the measure in bhojane mattan~n~uta^ (q.v.).
the 4 right e.: samma-ppadha^na; s. padha^na. Right e. s. sacca (IV 6), magga (6) . - 5 elements of e.: padha^niyanga (q.v.).
s. niyama, tathata^, dhamma-tthiti-n~a^na.
dweller, the ascetic practice for the: s. dhutanga.
”ties”."There are 4 ties: the bodily tie (ka^yagantha) of covetousness (abhijjha^), of ill-will (vya^pa^da), of clinging to rule and ritual (si^labbata-para^ma^sa), of dogmatical fanaticism (idamsacca^bhinivesa)" (D. 33). - "These things are ties, since they tie this mental and material body" (Vis.M. XXII, 54).
cf. peta, yakkha; s. loka.
bodily: rúpassa upacaya: s. khandha I.
”patience”, forbearance”, is one of the 10 perfections (pa^rami^, q.v.).
(corporeality): s. khandha, rúpa-kala^pa.
the right: n~a^ya, is a name for the 8-fold path (s. magga)
”loving-kindness”, is one of the 4 sublime abodes (brahma-viha^ra, q.v.).
a^rammana (q.v.); as condition s. paccaya (2).
the elements of the effort for: pa^risuddhipadha^niyanga (q.v.).
the 3: mala (q.v.).
”happy course of existence”; s. gati.
a^sava (q.v.).
(lit.”thirst”): ”craving”, is the chief root of suffering, and of the ever-continuing cycle of rebirths."What, o monks, is the origin of suffering? It is that craving which gives rise to ever-fresh rebirth and, bound up with pleasure and lust, now here, now there, finds ever fresh delight. It is the sensual craving (ka^ma-tanha^), the craving for existence (bhava-tanha^), the craving for non-existence (vibhava-tanha^)”” (D. 22). T. is the 8th link in the formula of the dependent origination (paticcasamuppa^da, q.v.). Cf. sacca.
Corresponding to the 6 sense-objects, there are 6 kinds of craving craving for visible objects, for sounds, odours, tastes, bodily impressions, mental impressions (rúpa-, sadda-, gandha-, rasa-, photthabba-, dhamma-tanha^). (M. 9; D. 15)
Corresponding to the 3-fold existence, there are 3 kinds: craving for sensual existence (ka^ma-tanha^), for fine-material existence (rúpa-tanha^), for immaterial existence (arúpa-tanha^). (D. 33)
There are 18 ”thought-channels of craving” (tanha^-vicarita) induced internally, and 18 induced externally; and as occurring in past, present and future, they total 108; see A. IV, 199; Vibh., Ch. 17 (Khuddakavatthu-Vibhanga).
According to the dependent origination, craving is conditioned by feeling; on this see D. 22 (section on the 2nd Truth).
Of craving for existence (bhava-tanha^ ) it is said (A. X, 62): "No first beginning of the craving for existence can be perceived, o monks, before which it was not and after which it came to be. But it can he perceived that craving for existence has its specific condition. I say, o monks, that also craving for existence has its condition that feeds it (sa^haram) and is not without it. And what is it? ”Ignorance”, one has to reply." - Craving for existence and ignorance are called "the outstanding causes that lead to happy and unhappy destinies (courses of existence)" (s. Vis.M. XVII, 36-42).
The most frequent synonyms of tanha^ are ra^ga (q.v.) and lobha (s. múla).
awareness of: one of the insight-knowledges; s. visuddhi VI. 3.
thi^na, s. thi^na-middha (q.v.).
jha^na (q.v.).
the 4 Noble: sacca (q.v.). - 2-fold knowledge of the t.; s. saccan~a^na.
a class of heavenly beings in the sensuous plane; s. deva (1).
as a general term for the 5 sense-organs (cakkhu-vatthu, etc ) is frequent in the Com., and often used together with a^rammana (object). This usage, however, is already indicated in the Abh. Canon: ”Cakkhum p”etam... vatthum p”etam” (Dhs. § 597; Vibh., p.71, PTS): ”cakkhuvin~n~a^nassa vatthu” (Dhs. §§ 679ff.).
”physical base”, i.e. the 6 physical organs on which the mental process is based, are the 5 physical sense-organs and, according to the Com., the heart (hadaya-vatthu, q.v.) as the 6th. This 6th vatthu must not be confounded with the 6th a^yatana, which is a collective name for all consciousness whatever. - (App.).
the 3 ”abstentions” or abstinences, are: abstention from wrong speech, wrong (bodily) action and wrong livelihood; corresponding to right speech, action and livelihood of the 8-fold Path (s. magga, 3-5). By abstention is not simply meant the non-occurrence of the evil things in question, but the deliberate abstaining therefrom, whenever occasion arises. They belong to the ”secondary” (not constant) mental concomitants obtaining in lofty consciousness (s. Tab. II). Cf. si^la.
s. si^la.
lahuta^ (q.v.).
”not-self”, non-ego, egolessness, impersonality, ...
is the last of the three characteristics of existence (ti-lakkhana, q.v.) The anatta^ doctrine teaches that neither within the bodily and mental phenomena of existence, nor outside of them, can be found anything that in the ultimate sense could be regarded as a self-existing real ego-entity, soul or any other abiding substance.
This is the central doctrine of Buddhism, without understanding which a real knowledge of Buddhism is altogether impossible. It is the only really specific Buddhist doctrine, with which the entire Structure of the Buddhist teaching stands or falls. All the remaining Buddhist doctrines may, more or less, be found in other philosophic systems and religions, but the anatta^-doctrine has been clearly and unreservedly taught only by the Buddha, wherefore the Buddha is known as the anatta^-va^di, or ”Teacher of Impersonality”.
Whosoever has not penetrated this impersonality of all existence, and does not comprehend that in reality there exists only this continually self-consuming process of arising and passing bodily and mental phenomena, and that there is no separate ego-entity within or without this process, he will not be able to understand Buddhism, i.e. the teaching of the 4 Noble Truths (sacca, q.v.), in the right light. He will think that it is his ego, his personality, that experiences suffering, his personality that performs good and evil actions and will be reborn according to these actions, his personality that will enter into Nibba^na, his personality that walks on the Eightfold Path. Thus it is said in Vis.M. XVI:
"Mere suffering exists, no sufferer is found;
The deeds are, but no doer of the deeds is there;
Nibba^na is, but not the man that enters it;
The path is, but no traveler on it is seen."
"Whosoever is not clear with regard to the conditionally arisen phenomena, and does not comprehend that all the actions are conditioned through ignorance, etc., he thinks that it is an ego that understands or does not understand, that acts or causes to act, that comes to existence at rebirth .... that has the sense-impression, that feels, desires, becomes attached, continues and at rebirth again enters a new existence" (Vis.M. XVII. 117).
While in the case of the first two characteristics it is stated that all formations (sabbe sankha^ra^) are impermanent and subject to suffering, the corresponding text for the third characteristic states that "all things are not-self" (sabbe dhamma^ anatta^; M. 35, Dhp. 279). This is for emphasizing that the false view of an abiding self or substance is neither applicable to any ”formation” or conditioned phenomenon, nor to Nibba^na, the Unconditioned Element (asankhata^ dha^tu).
The Anatta^-lakkhana Sutta, the ”Discourse on the Characteristic of Not-self”, was the second discourse after Enlightenment, preached by the Buddha to his first five disciples, who after hearing it attained to perfect Holiness (arahatta).
The contemplation of not-self (anatta^nupassana^) leads to the emptiness liberation (sun~n~ata^-vimokkha, s. vimokkha). Herein the faculty of wisdom (pan~n~indriya) is outstanding, and one who attains in that way the path of Stream-entry is called a Dhamma-devotee (dhamma^nusa^ri; s. ariya-puggala); at the next two stages of sainthood he becomes a vision-attainer (ditthippatta); and at the highest stage, i.e. Holiness, he is called ”liberated by wisdom” (pan~n~a^-vimutta).
For further details, see paramattha-sacca, paticca-samuppa^da, khandha, ti-lakkhana, na^ma-rúpa, patisandhi.
Literature: Anatta^-lakkhana Sutta, Vinaya I, 13-14; S.22. 59; tr. in Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha (WHEEL 17). -
Another important text on Anatta^ is the Discourse on the Snake Simile (Alagaddúpama Sutta, M. 22; tr. in WHEEL 48/49) .
Other texts in "Path". - Further: Anatta^ and Nibba^na, by Nyanaponika Thera (WHEEL 11);
The Truth of Anatta^, by Dr. G. P. Malalasekera (WHEEL 94);
The Three Basic Facts of Existence III: Egolessness (WHEEL 202/204)
”volition”, will, is one of the seven mental factors (cetasika, q.v.) inseparably bound up with all consciousness, namely sensorial or mental impression (phassa), feeling (vedana^), perception (san~n~a^), volition (cetana^), concentration (sama^dhi), vitality (ji^vita), advertence (manasika^ra). Cf. Tab. II, III.
With regard to karmical volition (i.e. wholesome or unwholesome karma) it is said in A. VI, 13: "Volition is action (karma), thus I say, o monks; for as soon as volition arises, one does the action, be it by body, speech or mind." For details, s. paticca-samuppa^da (10), karma.
ma^na (q.v.); further s. samyojana.
effort of: s. padha^na.
image (during concentration): s. nimitta, kasina, sama^dhi.
the: sankhata (q.v.).
evil views with fixed d.: niyata-miccha^-ditthi (q.v.). Men with fixed d.: niyata-puggala (q.v.). See gati.
upa^saka (q.v.) .
”woeful course” (of existence); s. gati.
8 sources of e.: samvega-vatthu (q.v.). The 4 places rousing emotion; samvejani^ya-ttha^na (q.v.).
mental: s. cetasika. - F. of absorption, s. jha^na - F. of enlightenment, s. bojjhanga.
The 10 f. binding to existence; s. samyojana.
cf. pan~n~a^, vipassana^, n~a^na.
and ji^vitindriya: ”Life, vitality”, may be either physical (rúpa-ji^vitindriya) or mental (na^ma-ji^vitindriya). The latter is one of the mental factors inseparably associated with all consciousness; cf. na^ma, cetana^, phassa.
”lightness”, or ”agility”, may be of 3 kinds: of corporeality (rúpassa lahuta^; s. khandha, I ), of mental factors (ka^ya-lahuta^), and of consciousness (citta-lahuta^). Cf. Tab. II.
(regarding the absorptions): s. vasi^. - 8 stages of: abhibha^yatana (q.v.).
one, the: gotrabhú (q.v.).
”altruistic (or sympathetic) joy”, is one of the 4 sublime abodes (brahma-viha^ra, q.v.).
(rúpa, ka^ya, citta): ”elasticity” (of corporeality, mental factors, consciousness); s. khandha (I) and Tab. II.
s. lahuta^.
karmically: avya^kata (q.v.); n. feelings, s. vedana^.
mark, sign; image; target, object; cause, condition. These meanings are used in, and adapted to, many contexts of which only the doctrinal ones are mentioned here.
1.”Mental (reflex-) image”, obtained in meditation. In full clarity, it will appear in the mind by successful practice of certain concentration-exercises and will then appear as vividly as if seen by the eye. The object perceived at the very beginning of concentration is called the preparatory image (parikamma-nimitta). The still unsteady and unclear image, which arises when the mind has reached a weak degree of concentration, is called the acquired image (uggaha-nimitta). An entirely clear and immovable image arising at a higher degree of concentration is the counter-image (patibha^ga-nimitta). As soon as this image arises, the stage of neighbourhood (or access) concentration (upaca^ra-sama^dhi) is reached. For further details, s. kasina, sama^dhi.
2.”Sign of (previous) kamma” (kamma-nimitta) and ”sign of (the future) destiny” (gati-nimitta); these arise as mental objects of the last karmic consciousness before death (marana^sanna-kamma; s. karma, III, 3).
Usages (1) and (2) are commentarial (s. App.). In sutta usage, the term occurs, e.g. as:
3.”Outward appearance”: of one who has sense-control it is said- that "he does not seize upon the general appearance” of an object (na nimittagga^hi^; M. 38, D. 2; expl. Vis I, 54f; see si^la).
4.”Object”: the six objects, i.e. visual, etc. (rúpa-nimitta; S. XXII, 3). Also, when in explanation of animitta-cetovimutti, signless deliverance of mind (s. cetovimutti, vimokkha), it is said, ”sabba-nimitta^nam amanasika^ra^”, it refers to the 6 sense-objects (Com. to M. 43), and has therefore to be rendered "by paying no attention to any object (or object-ideas)." - A pleasant or beautiful object (subha-nimitta, q.v.) is a condition to the arising of the hindrance of sense-desire; a ”repellent object” (patigha-nimitta) for the hindrance of ill-will; contemplation on the impurity of an object (asubha-nimitta; s. asubha) is an antidote to sense-desire.
5. In Pts.M. II, in a repetitive series of terms, nimitta appears together with uppa^do (origin of existence), pavattam (continuity of existence), and may then be rendered by ”condition of existence” (s. Path, 194f.).
As signifying the mental reflex-image occurring in meditation, this term, singly or in compounds (parikkamma-, uggaha-, patibha^ga-n.), is found only in the Com., Vis.M., etc. The same holds good for kamma-nimitta, gati-nimitta.