s. patisandhi.
an Abhidhamma term signifying a ”state of consciousness arisen spontaneously”, i. e. without previous deliberation, preparation, or prompting by others; hence: ”unprepared, unprompted”. This term and its counterpart (sasankha^rikacitta, q.v.), probably go back to a similar distinction made in the Suttas (A. IV, 171;"Path" 184). See Tab. I; examples in Vis.M. XIV, 84f.
s. samsara^, vatta.
”indulging in grief”; s. manopavica^ra.
parin~n~a^ (q.v.).
This term is used in Abh. S. for the citta, Tab. I, 72. This type of consciousness (the Buddha”s smile) is often implied in the suttas.
lit.”consciousness producing mirth” (smile), is found in the Abhidhammattha Sangaha as a name for the joyful mind-consciousness element (manovin~n~a^na-dha^tu, Tab. I. 72) arising as functional consciousness independent of karma (kiriya-citta), only in the Arahat. - (App.).
s. karma.
s. pun~n~a, pun~n~a-kiriya-vatthu.
”attainment of extinction” (S. XIV, 11), also called san~n~a^-vedayita-nirodha, ”extinction of feeling and perception”, is the temporary suspension of all consciousness and mental activity, following immediately upon the semi-conscious state called ”sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception” (s. jha^na, 8). The absolutely necessary pre-conditions to its attainment are said to be perfect mastery of all the 8 absorptions (jha^na), as well as the previous attainment of Ana^ga^mi or Arahatship (s. ariya-puggala).
According to Vis.M. XXIII, the entering into this state takes place in the following way: by means of mental tranquillity (samatha) and insight (vipassana^) one has to pass through all the 8 absorptions one after the other up to the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception and then one has to bring this state to an end. If, namely, according to the Vis.M., the disciple (Ana^ga^mi or Arahat) passes through the absorption merely by means of tranquillity, i.e. concentration, he will only attain the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, and then come to a standstill; if, on the other hand, he proceeds only with insight, he will reach the fruition (phala) of Ana^ga^mi or Arahatship. He, however, who by means of both faculties has risen from absorption to absorption and, having made the necessary preparations, brings the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception to an end, such a one reaches the state of extinction. Whilst the disciple is passing through the 8 absorptions, he each time emerges from the absorption attained, and regards with his insight all the mental phenomena constituting that special absorption, as impermanent, miserable and impersonal. Then he again enters the next higher absorption, and thus, after each absorption practising insight, he at last reaches the state of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, and thereafter the full extinction. This state, according to the Com., may last for 7 days or even longer. Immediately at the rising from this state, however, there arises in the Ana^ga^mi the fruition of Ana^ga^miship (ana^ga^mi-phala), in the Arahat the fruition of Arahatship (arahatta-phala).
With regard to the difference existing between the monk abiding in this state of extinction on the one hand, and a dead person on the other hand, M 43 says: "In him who is dead, and whose life has come to an end, the bodily (in-and-outbreathing), verbal (thought-conception and discursive thinking), and mental functions (s. sankha^ra, 2) have become suspended and come to a standstill, life is exhausted, the vital heat extinguished, the faculties are destroyed. Also in the monk who has reached ”extinction of perception and feeling” (san~n~a^-vedayita-nirodha), the bodily, verbal and mental functions have been suspended and come to a standstill, but life is not exhausted, the vital heat not extinguished, and the faculties are not destroyed."
For details, see Vis.M. XXIII; for texts s. Path 206.
”contemplation of extinction”, is one of the 18 chief kinds of insight (vipassana^ q.v.). See a^na^pa^nasati (15).
”preparatory concentration”, is the initial and still undeveloped concentration of mind; s. sama^dhi.
s. ka^yagata^-sati.
s. patigha (2a).
”tranquillity and insight”, are identical with concentration (sama^dhi, q.v.; s. prec.) and wisdom (pan~n~a^, q.v.), and form the two branches of mental development (bha^vana^, q.v.).
(1) ”Tranquillity” is all unperturbed, peaceful and lucid state of mind attained by strong mental concentration. Though as a distinct way of practice (s. samatha-ya^nika), it aims at the attainment of the meditative absorptions (jha^na, q.v.), a high degree of tranquil concentration (though not necessarily that of the absorptions) is indispensable for insight too. Tranquillity frees the mind from impurities and inner obstacles, and gives it greater penetrative strength.
””What now is the power of tranquillity (samatha-bala)? It is the one-pointedness and non-distraction of the mind due to freedom from desire (renunciation) ... to freedom from ill-will ... to the perception of light (s. aloka-san~n~a^) ... to non-distraction ... to the defilling of phenomena ... to knowledge, gladness, the 8 attainments, the 10 kasinas, the 10 recollections, the 9 cemetery contemplations, the 32 kinds of respiration-mindfulness ... the one-pointedness and non-distraction of the mind of one contemplating abandonment (relinquishment) while inhaling and exhaling (s. a^na^pa^nasati).
"The power of tranquillity consists of the freedom from perturbation; in the 1st absorption, from the 5 hindrances (ni^varana, (q.v.); in the 2nd absorption, from thought-conception and discursive thinking;... in the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception it consists of the freedom from perturbation by the perception of the sphere of nothingness (s. anupubbanirodha), which is no longer agitated and irritated by defilements associated with restlessness, nor by the groups of existence" (Pts.M. 1. p. 97)
(2) ”Insight” (s. vipassana^) is the penetrative understanding by direct meditative experience of the impermanency, unsatisfactoriness and impersonality of all material and mental phenomena of existence. It is insight that leads to entrance into the supermundance states of holiness and to final liberation.
””What now is the power of insight? It is the contemplation of impermanency (anicca^nupassana^), of misery (dukkhanupassana^), impersonality” (anatta^nupassana^), of aversion (nibbidanupassana^), detachment (vira^ganupassana^), extinction (nirodha), ahandonment (patinissagga), with regard to corporcality, feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness.... That in contemplating the impermanency one is no more agitated by the idea of grasping ... no more by ignorance and the defilements associated therewith and no more by the groups of existence: this is called the power of insight" (Pts.M. p. 97).
"Two things are conducive to knowledge: tranquillity and insight. If tranquillity is developed, what profit does it bring? The mind is developed. If the mind is developed, what profit does it bring? All lust is abandoned.
"If insight is developed, what profit does it bring? Wisdom is developed. If wisdom is developed, what profit does it bring? All ignorance is abandoned" (A. II, 2.7).
There is a method of meditative practice where, in alternating sequence, tranquillity-meditation and insight-meditation are developed. It is called ”tranquillity and insight joined in pairs” (samatha-vipassana^yuganaddha), the coupling or yoking of tranquillity and insight. He who undertakes it, first enters into the 1st absorption. After rising from it, he contemplates the mental phenomena that were present in it (feeling, perception, etc.) as impermanent, painful and not-self, and thus he develops insight. Thereupon he enters into the 2nd absorption; and after rising from it, he again considers its constituent phenomena as impermanent, etc. In this way, he passes from one absorption to the next, until at last, during a moment of insight, the intuitive knowledge of the path (of Stream-entry, etc.) flashes forth - See A. IV, 170; A.IX, 36; Pts: Yuganaddha Katha^.
”condition of association”, is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.).
”overcoming by destruction”, is the absolute extinction of certain fetters of existence (samyojana, q.v.), which takes place by entering into one of the 4 supermundane paths of holiness (s. ariya-puggala). - Regarding the 5 kinds of overcoming, s. paha^na.
atta-kilamatha (q.v.).