The person in whom torpor
dominates
is called "dull,"
even though he is also dissipated.
even though he is also dissipated.
Abhidharmakosabhasyam-Vol-1-Vasubandhu-Poussin-Pruden-1991
Words are subject to caprice, but one must examine their meaning.
[iii. The mental states or caittas. ]
23a. The mind and its mental states are necessarily generated
108
together.
The mind and its mental states cannot be independently generated.
23d. All things are necessarily generated with their characteristics.
All conditioned dharmas, physical matter, the mind (ii. 34), its mental states, and the sarhskdras disassociated from the mind (ii. 35), are necessarily generated with their samskrtalaksanas--arising, dura- tion, old age, and impermanence (ii. 46a).
23c. Sometimes with possession.
Among the conditioned dharmas, those that are integral to living beings (sattvdkhya, i. 10) are necessarily generated with the prdpti relative to each one of them (ii. 37b). There is no prdpti for the others. That is why the Karika says "sometimes. "
? 109
What are the mental states?
23c-d. The mental states are of five types, mahdbhumikas, etc.
The mental states are the mahdbhumikas, those that accompany all minds; the kusalamahabhumikas, those that accompany all good minds; the klesamahdbhumikas, those that accompany all defiled minds; the akusalamahdbhumikas, those that accompany all bad minds; and the parittaklesabhumikas, those that have small defile- ments for their sphere.
Bhumi or sphere signifies "place of origin. " The place of origin of a dharma is the bhumi of this dharma.
The "great sphere" or mahabhumi is so called because it is the
sphere, the place of origin, of great dharmas (that is, of dharmas of
great extension, that are found everywhere). The dharmas that are
inherent in the mahabhumi are called mahdbhumika, that is, the 10
dharmas that are always found in all minds. ? ***
What are the mahdbhumikas, the mental states found in all minds?
24. Sensation, volition, motion, desire for action, contact, discernment, memory, the act of attention, approval, and
m
absorption or concentration coexist in every mind.
112
According to the School, moment of the mind.
all the ten dharmas exist in every
1. Vedand is the threefold sensation, pleasant, painful, and neither- painful-nor-pleasant. (i. 14).
2. Cetand is that which conditions, informs, and shapes the mind {cittabhisamskara, i. 15; iv. l).
3. Samjnd is samjnana, that which grasps the marks (male, female, etc. ) of an object (yisayanimittodgrahana, i. 14, ii. 34b-d).
The Indriyas 189
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113 4. Chanda is the desire for action.
5. Sparsa is the state of contact arisen out of the encounter of the organ, the object and the consciousness; in other words, the dharma by virtue of which the organ, the object, and the consciousness are as if they were touching one another (iii. 30).
6. Prajna, which the Karika designates under the name of matt, is 114
discernment of the dharmas (i. 2)
7. Smrti is non-failing with regard to the object; a dharma by virtue
of which the mind does not forget the object, by virtue of which it
115 cherishes it in order to so express it (abhilasativa).
116
8. Manaskara is the modification (dbhoga) of the mind; in other
words, "to bend" or "to apply" the mind towards an object. (Manaskara is explained as manasah kdrah or manah karoty dvarjayati, ii. 72).
117 9. Adhimukti is approval.
10. Samddhi is the unity of the object with the mind (cittaikagrata): (agra = alambana, i. 33); this is the dharma by virtue of which the
118 mind, in an uninterrupted series, remains on an object (viii. 1)
How do we know that these ten mental states, distinct in nature, coexist in one and the same mind?
Subtle, unquestionably, are the specific characteristics of the mind and its mental states. One discerns them, only with difficulty even when one is content to consider each of the mental states as developing in a homogeneous series; how much more so when one envisions them in the (psychological) moment (ksana) in which they all exist. If the differences of the taste of vegetables, tastes that we know through a material organ, are difficult to distinguish, how much more so is this true with non-material dharmas that are perceived through the mental consciousness.
***
The "sphere" of the good dharmas of great extension is termed kusalamahabhumi. The mental states that arise from this sphere are termed kusalamahabhumikas: the dharmas that are found in all good minds.
? 25. Faith, diligence, aptitude, indifference, respect, fear, two
roots, non-violence, and energy are found only in a good mind,
119 and are found in all good minds.
These ten dharmas are always found in all good minds. 12
1. Sraddha or faith is clarification of the mind. ? According to 121
another opinion, it is adherence to the doctrine of the results of actions (vi. 78b), to the Three Precious Ones (vi. 73c), and to the Truths.
2. Apramdda or diligence is bhavand, that is, the taking possession
122 of, and the cultivation of good dharmas.
[Objection. ] The taking possession of and the cultivation of good dharmas is none other than the good dharmas being grasped and cultivated. How can you make a partial mental dharma of diligence?
Diligence is application to good dharmas. One says, by metaphor, that it is bhavana (cultivation). By this fact, it is the cause of bhavana.
123
According to another school, mind.
diligence is the guarding of the
3. Prasrabdhi is the dharma through which the mind is clever, 124
light, and apt.
125
But, [the Sautrantikas observe, ] does not the Sutra speak of the
126 prasrabdhi of the body?
The Sutra speaks of the prasrabdhi of the body as it speaks of bodily sensation. (All sensation is, in its nature, mental; sometimes the Sutra terms the sensation that has for its support the five organs constituted of atoms a "bodily" sensation associated with the five sense consciousnesses [ii. 7a]. In the same way that prasrabdhi of the mind depends on the five organs, prasrabdhi of the five sense conscious- nesses is termed "prasrabdhi of the body. ")
[The Sautrantikas answer:] How can the prasrabdhi of the body, thus understood, be counted among the parts of Bodhi (sambodhyanga, vi. 68)? In fact, the five sense consciousnesses are of the sphere of Kamadhatu, for they are not "absorbed," that is, they are not produced in the state of absorption, whereas the parts of Bodhi are "absorbed" (vi. 71a). Thus, in our opinion, in the Sutra alluded to, prasrabdhi of the body is aptitude of the body (kayakarmanyata, viii. 9).
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[The Sarvastivadins:] How can prasrabdhi of the body, thus understood, be a part of Bodhi? The aptitude of the body is, in fact, impure.
[The Sautrantikas:] But it is propitious to prasrabdhi of the mind,
which is a part of Bodhi; for this reason it receives the name "part of
Bodhi. " The Sutra often expresses itself in this manner. For example,
it teaches that joy constitutes the part of Bodhi called joy (prtUsam- 127
bodhyanga, vi. 71). It teaches that hostility and the causes of hostility 128
constitute the obstacle of wickedness {vyapadanivarana, v. 59). It
teaches that insight, resolution, and effort constitute "the element of
speculative consciousness" (prajnaskandha, vii. 76): for neither resolu-
tion, which is by its nature discursive thought (vitarka), nor effort,
which is by nature energy, are speculative consciousness; but they are
favorable to this consciousness and are, consequently, considered as 129
consciousness. Prasrabdhi of the body, being a condition of prasrab- dhi of the mind, is placed, as are these, with these, among the parts of Bodhi.
4. Upeksd or equanimity, is mental indifference, the dhanna by 13
which the mind remains equal, even, free from modification. ?
[The Sautrantikas:] If all minds are associated with attention, which is of the nature of "inflexion" or modification, how can all good minds be associated with equanimity, which is by its nature non-
inflexion?
[The Vaibhasikas:] We have already remarked on this: the specific
characteristics of the mind and its mental states are very difficult to know and determine.
[The Sautrantikas:] This is not the point: it is quite inadmissible
that the same mind be associated with mental states which repudiate
both modification and non-modification, and both pleasure and
131 displeasure.
132
[The Vaibhasikas: ] There is modification towards a certain
object, and non-modification with regard to another object: hence, there is no contradiction to the coexistence of modification and non- modification.
? [The Sautrantikas:] If this is so, then associated mental states cannot be on the same object, which is contradictory to your definition of associated dharmas (ii. 34d). For us, the dhannas that are con- tradictory, here manaskdra and upeksd and otherwise vitarka and vicara (ii. 33), do not exist simultaneously, but successively.
5-6. We shall explain respect and fear later (ii. 32).
7-8. The two roots of good are absence-of-desire and absence-of-
hatred {advesa, iv. 8). Absence-of-error, the third root of good, is
"discernment," prajnd, by nature: hence it is already named among the 133
134 9. Non-violence is non-cruelty.
135 10. Energy is endurance of the mind.
Such are the mental states that are associated with all good minds.
***
The sphere of the mahaklesadharmas is termed mahdklesabhumi. The mental states that belong to this sphere, that is, the mental states that exist in all defiled minds, are klesamahdbhumikas.
What are the defiled mental states?
26a-c. Error, non-diligence, idleness, disbelief, torpor, and dissipation are always and exclusively in soiled minds.
mahabhumikas.
1. Error, moha is ignorance (avidya, iii. 29), non-knowledge, 136
non-clarity.
2. Non-diligence, pramdda, the opposite of diligence, is the non-
taking possession of and the non-cultivation of good dharmas.
3. Idleness, kaustdya, is the opposite of energy.
4. Disbelief, dsraddhya, is the opposite of faith.
5. Torpor, styana, is the opposite of aptitude (vii. lld).
The Abhidharma (Jndnaprasthana, TD 26, p. 925bl0) says: "What
is torpor? The weight of the body, the weight of the mind, inaptitude of the body, inaptitude of the mind. Torpor of the body and torpor of the mind are termed torpor. "
Now torpor is a "mental state. " How can one have torpor of the body?
The Indriyas 193
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Chapter Two
In the same way that there is bodily sensation (as above, p. 191).
137
1. But the Mula Abhidharma
are ten klesamahdbhumikas, but on the other hand, it omits torpor from its enumeratioa What are these ten?
They are disbelief (asrdddhya), idleness (kausidya), default of memory (musitasmrtita), distraction (viksepa), ignorance (avidyd), non-observation (asamprajanya), wrong judgment (ayonisomanas- kdra), wrong resolution (mithyddhimoksa), dissipation {auddhatya), and diligence (j? ramdda).
13S>
How foolish you are (devdndmpriyah), grasping the letter of the
140 text and ignoring its intention (prdptijno na tv ispijnah)\
What is its intention?
Five of the dharmas mentioned in the Abhidharma as klesa- mahdbhumikas, namely default of memory, distraction, non- observation, wrong judgment, and wrong resolution, have already been mentioned as mahabhumikas: there is no reason to name them again as klesamahabhumikas. The same for the root of good non-error: even though it is a kusalamahabhumika, it is not catalogued as such, because, being prajna by nature, it is classed as a mahabhumika (as above, note 114).
In fact default of memory is nothing other than defiled memory (smrti). Distration (iv. 58) is defiled samddhi. Non-observation is defiled prajna. Wrong judgment is defiled judgment. And wrong resolution is defiled resolution.
This is why the Mula Abhidharma lists ten klesamabhdbhilmikas in admitting the state of mahabhumikas to a state of defilement.
***
6. Dissipation, auddhatya, is non-calmness of the mind (vii. lld) Only these six dharmas are klesamahdbhumikas.
***
138
Is a mahabhumika also a klesamahdbhumika'i
says, on the one hand that there
? There are four alternatives: 1. sensation, ideas, volition, contact and desire (chanda) are only mahdbhumikas; 2. disbelief, idleness, igno- rance, dissipation, and diligence are only kleUmahdbhumikas\ 3. memory, samddhi, prajna, judgment, and resolution belong to both categories; and 4. the other dharmas {klesamahdbhumikas, etc. )
Certain Masters (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 220a22) maintain that distraction is not wrong samddhi: the alternatives then are differently established: distraction is added to the second category, and samddhi is put into the third.
2. As for the statement: "the Mula Abhidharma omits torpor from its enumeration" of the klesamahdbhumika, it is admitted that torpor is associated with all defiled dharmas.
If torpor is omitted from the list, is this my fault or the fault of the author of the Abhidharma?
141
The Abhidharmikas
explain the omission: torpor should be
named; but it is not named because it is favorable to samddhi. In fact,
they claim, persons with a torpid disposition {stydnacarita), or dull
142
persons, realize meditation sooner than do dissipated persons.
But who is dull without being dissipated? Who is dissipated
without being dull? Torpor and dissipation always go together.
Yes, torpor and dissipation go together. But the term carita indicates excess.
The person in whom torpor dominates is called "dull,"
even though he is also dissipated.
We know this as well as you do; but it is by reason of their nature
that the dharmas are classified into different categories. It is then established that six dharmas are klesamahabhumikas, because only they are produced in all defiled minds.
*##
26c-d. Disrespect and the absence of fear are always and exclusively found in bad minds.
These two dharmas, which will be defined below (ii. 32) are always found in bad minds. Consequently they are called akusalamahd-
143
bhumikas.
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Chapter Two
27. Anger, enmity, dissimilation, jealousy, stubbornness, hypo-
crisy, greed, the spirit of deception, pride-intoxication, the 144
spirit of violence, etc. , are the panttaklesabhumikas.
They are called this because they have parittaklesas for their spheres. Parjittaklesa, "small defilement," means avidyd or ignorance (iii. 28c-d) in an isolated state, not associated with lust, etc (kevala avenikt avidyd, v. 14).
They are only associated with ignorance, with the ignorance that is
cast off through the Path of Meditation, ignorance of the sphere of
mental consciousness. This is why they are called parittaklesa-
145
These will be studied in the Fifth Chapter (v. 46 and following).
***
We have studied five categories of mental states. There are other
mental states that are indeterminate, aniyata, which are sometimes
associated with a good mind, and sometimes with a bad or a neutral
mind: regret (kaukrtya, ii. 28), apathy (rniddha, v. 47, vii. lld), vitarka 146
***
How many mental states are necessarily produced with each mind of each class--with a good, bad, or neutral mind?
28a. The mind in Kamadhatu, when it is good, always consists of twenty-two mental states, as it is always associated with vitarka and vicara.
There are five classes of minds in Kamadhatu: 1) the good mind constitutes one class; 2-3) the bad mind constitutes two classes,
bhumikas.
(ii. 33), vicara, etc.
? accordingly as it is "independent," that is, associated only with
ignorance, or associated with the other defilements, lust, etc. ; and 4-5)
the neutral mind that is free of retribution constitutes two classes
according as it is soiled, that is, associated with satkdyadrsti or with 147
antagrahadrsti (v. 3), or not defiled, that is, "possessing retribution," etc. (i. 37, ii. 71).
The mind in Kamadhatu is always associated with vitarka and vicara (ii. 33a-b). This mind, when it is good, consists of twenty-two mental states: ten mahabhumikas, ten kusalamahabhumikas, plus two aniyatas, namely vitarka and vicara.
When the good mind includes regret {kaukftya), the total rises to twenty-three.
148
Kaukftya is, properly, the nature of that which is wrongly done,
but here kaukftya means a mental state that has for its object kaukftya
in its literal sense, namely regret relative to an error. In the same way,
vimoksamukha which has sunyatd or absence of dtman for its object is
termed sunyatd (viii. 24-25); non-desire which has asubha or the
loathsome (vi. llc-d) for its object is called asubha. In the same way, in
the world, one says that the village, the town, the country, are all
brought together, designating thus the inhabitants by the name of the
location. Kaukftya in its proper sense is the support, the raison d'etre
of regret; hence regret is termed kaukftya. For the result receives the
What does the word kaukftya (regret) mean?
name of its cause, for example in the text: "The six sparsdyatanas are 149
previous actions. "
But how can one designate "regret over errors," regret relative to
an action not done, by the name of kaukftya?
Because one says "It is poorly done on my part not to have done
this action," thus designating an omission as "done" or "poorly done. " When is regret good?
When it is relative to a good action omitted or to a bad action
accomplished. It is bad when it is relative to a bad action omitted or to a good action accomplished.
These two types of regret bear on the two categories of action.
The Indriyas 197
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29a. A bad mind consists of twenty mental states when it is independent of, or associated with views (drsti);
1. An independent mind is a mind associated with ignorance 15
(avidya, v. l), but not associated with other defilements, lust, etc ?
A bad mind associated with views is a mind associated with
mithyddrsti, with drspipardmarsa, or with stlavratapardmarsa (v. 3); a mind associated with satkdyadrsti and with antagrdhadrspi is not bad, but defiled-neutral.
In these two cases, a bad mind consists of ten mahdbhumikas, six klesamahabhumikas, two akusalarnahdbhurnikas, plus two aniyatas, namely vitarka and vicdra.
View itself is not counted, for a view is a certain type oi prajnd, and m
prajnd is a mahdbhilmika.
29b. Twenty-one, when it is associated with one of the four
defilements, with anger, etc. , with regret.
2. Associated with lust, hostility, pride, or doubt (rdgaf pratigha, mdna, vicikitsd, v. l), a bad mind consists of twenty-one mental states, the same as above, plus lust or hostility, etc.
Associated with anger, etc. , that is, with one of the minor defilements (upaklesas) enumerated above, ii. 27. -
30a. A neutral mind consists of eighteen mental states when it is defiled;
In Kamadhatu, a neutral mind, that is, a mind free of retribution, is defiled, that is covered by defilement when it is associated with satkdyadrsti or antagrdhadrspi. This mind consists of ten maha- bhumikas, six klesamahdbhumikas, plus vitarka and vicdra.
30b. In the contrary case, twelve.
Not defiled, a neutral mind consists of twelve mental states: the ten mahdbhumikas, vitarka, and vicdra.
The Foreigners believe that regret can be indefinite, for example, in a dream. An indefinite-non-defiled mind associated with indefinite regret would consist of thirteen mental states.
? 30c-d. Apathy is not in contradiction to any category; wherever it is found, it is added.
Apathy (middha, v. 47, viilld) can be good, bad, or neutral. The mind with which it is associated would then consist of twenty-three mental states instead of twenty-two, twenty-four instead of twenty- three, etc. , accordingly as it is good and free from regret, or good and accompanied by regret, etc.
31a. The bad mental states, regret and apathy, are absent from the First Dhyana.
In the First Dhyana there is missing 1) hostility (pratigha, v. l), 2) the series anger, etc. (ii. 27), with the exception of hypocrisy (sathya), deception {maya), and pride-intoxication {mada)\ 3) the two akusala- mahdbhumikaSy disrespect and the absence of fear (ii. 32); plus 4) regret, since dissatisfaction (ii. 8b-c) is absent, and 5) laziness, since food through the mouth (iii. 38d) is absent. The other mental states of
152 Kamadhatu exist in the First Dhyana.
31b. Further on, vitarka is also missing absent from the intermediate dhyana.
Furthermore, vitarka is absent from the intermediate dhyana. 31c Further on, again, vicara, etc.
In the Second Dhyana and above, up to and including Arupya- 153
dhatu, vicara, hypocrisy, and deception are also absent. Pride- intoxication exists in the three spheres of existence (v. 53c-d).
154
According to the Sutra, hypocrisy and deception exist as far as
the world of Brahma, but not above the heavens where beings are in
assembly. Mahabrahma, sitting in his assembly, was questioned by the
Bhiksu Asvajit: "Where do the four primary elements completely
disappear? " Incapable of responding, he boasted: "I am Brahma, great
155
Brahma, the Lord, the Creator, the Transformer, the Generator, the
Nourisher, the Father of all. " Finally, when Asvajit was leaving the
assembly, Brahma counselled him to return to the presence of the
15<s Master and ask him.
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? 200 Chapter Two
We have seen how many mental states are associated with each type of mind of the three spheres of existence. We have to define the mental states enumerated above.
What is the difference between disrespect (ahn) and absence of fear (anapatrapya)?
157 32a. Disrespect is lack of veneration.
158
Lack of respect, that is, the lack of veneration, the lack of fearful
submission with regard to the qualities {maitri, karund, etc. ) of oneself and others, and with regard to persons endowed with these qualities, is ahrtkya; ahn is a mental dharma opposed to respect.
32b. Anapatrapya or atrapa is the dharma that causes a person 159
not to see the unpleasant consequences of his transgressions.
"Transgressions" are what are scorned by good persons.
"Unpleasant consequences" are called in the Karika bhaya or fear, because these unpleasant consequences engender fear.
The condition of the person who does not see the consequences of transgression--the dharma that produces this condition,--is anapa- trapya or atrapd.
[Objection:] What do you understand by the expression "does not see the unpleasant consequences" abhayadarsitval Whether you in- terpret this phrase as abhayasya darsitvam, "he sees that there are no unpleasant consequences," or as bhayasya adarsitvam, "he does not see that there are unpleasant consequences," none of these explanations is satisfactory. In the first case, we have defiled prajna, an inexact knowledge; in the second case, we simply have ignorance.
The expression abhayadariitvam signifies neither "view" (defiled prajnd), nor "non-view" (ignorance). It describes a special dharma that is placed among the minor defilements (upaklesas, v. 46), which has false views and ignorance for its cause, and which is termed anapatrapya (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 180al7).
? 160
According to other Masters, dhrikya is the absence of shame
vis-a-vis oneself, in the commission of a transgression; anapatrdpya is
161
the absence of shame vis-a-vis others.
But cannot one consider oneself and others at the same time?
We do not say that the two forms of the absence of shame are
simultaneous.
There is dhrikya, an outflowing of lust, when the person does not
experience the shame of transgression when considering oneself; there is anapatrdpya, an outflowing from mental confusion, when he does not experience the shame of transgression when considering others.
Hri and apatrdpya are opposed to these two bad dhanna. Their definition, according to the first theory, is "respect, veneration, fearful submission/' or "fear of the consequence of transgression;" according to the second theory, "modesty," "respect for humans. "
Some think that affection (preman) and respect (gaurava) are the same thing.
162 32c. Affection is faith.
Affection is of two types, defiled and non-defiled (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 151a8).
The first is attachment; for example, affection for wife and sons. The second is faith; for example, affection for a master or for virtuous persons.
1. All faith is not affection, namely faith with regard to the Truths of Suffering and the Arising of Suffering.
2. All affection is not faith, namely defiled affection.
3. Faith can be affection, namely faith with regard to the Truths of the Extinction of Suffering and the Path.
4. The other mental states, the dhannas disassociated from the mind, etc. , are neither faith nor affection.
According to another opinion,--ours,--faith is a belief in qualities: affection is produced from this belief. Affection is then not faith, but the result of faith.
32c. Respect is hrt.
m
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As we have explained above (32a), respect is veneration, etc.
1. All hri is not respect, namely hri with respect to the Truths of 164
Suffering and the Origin of Suffering.
2. H n with respect to the Truths of the Extinction of Suffering and
the Path is also respect.
According to another opinion, respect is veneration; shame is born
from respect and this shame is called hri. Hence respect, the cause of hri, is not hri.
There are four alternatives concerning affection and respect:
1. Affection which is not respect, namely affection with regard to
wife, to children, to companions in the religious life, to pupils.
2. Respect which is not affection, namely respect with regard to
someone else's master, to a person endowed with qualities, etc.
3. Respect which is affection, namely respect with regard to one's
master, one's father, mother, etc.
4. Neither respect nor affection for other persons.
32d. Both exist in Kamadhatu and Rupadhatu.
Affection and respect do not exist in Arupyadhatu.
But you have said that affection is faith, and that respect is hri: now faith and hri are kusalamahdbhumikas (ii. 25): hence affection and respect should exist in Arupyadhatu.
Affection and respect are of two types: relative to dharmas and relative to persons. The text refers to the second type; the first type does exist in all three spheres of existence.
33a-b. Vitarka and vicara are grossness and subtlety of the 165
mind.
The grossness, that is, the gross state of the mind is termed vitarka\ the subtlety, that is, the subtle state of the mind is termed vicara. How can vitarka and vicara be associated with the mind at one and the same time? Can the mind, at one and the same time, be both gross and subtle?
166
According to one opinion, we may compare vicara to cold water,
the mind to cheese which floats on the surface of this cold water, and
? vitarka to the heat of the sun which operates on this cheese. By reason of the water and sun, the cheese is not too runny nor too hard. In this same way, vitarka and vicdra are associated with the mind: it is neither too subtle, by reason of vitarka, nor too gross, by reason of vicdra.
But, we would say, it follows from this explanation that vitarka and vicdra are not grossness and subtlety of mind, but the cause of its grossness and its subtlety: the cold water and the warm light of the sun are not the hard or the runny state of the cheese, but rather the cause of these states.
Other objections present themselves. Grossness and subtlety of
mind are relative things. They admit of many degrees: a mind of the
First Dhyana is subtle in comparison with a mind in Kamadhatu, but
gross in comparision with a mind in the Second Dhyana; the qualities
and the defilements can be more or less gross or subtle in one and the
same stage, for they are divided into nine categories. Thus, if vitarka
and vicdra are grossness and subtlety of the mind, we would have to 167
admit that they both exist up to the highest stage of Arupyadhatu. Now they cease at the Second Dhyana, and adding to this the fact that no specific or generic differences can be established between grossness and subtlety, one then cannot differentiate vitarka and vicdra.
According to another opinion, [that of the Sautrantikas,] vitarka 168
and vicdra are the "factors of voice. " The Sutra says in fact, "It is after having examined, after having judged (vitarkya, vicdrya) that one
169 speaks, not without having examined, not without having judged. "
The factors of voice that are called gross are called vitarkas; those that are subtle are called vicaras. (According to this explanation, we should understand vitarka and vicdra not as two distinct dhannas, but rather a collection of mind and mental states which provoke speech, and which is sometimes gross, sometimes subtle. )
[The Vaibhasikas:] What contradiction is there in two dharmas, the first (vitarka) gross, and the second (vicdra) subtle, being associated with the same mind?
[The Sautrantikas:] There would not be any contradiction if these two dharmas were specifically different; for example, sensations and ideas--although the first are gross and the second subtle (i. 22)--can
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coexist. But two states of the same species, one in a strong state and the other in a weak state, one gross and one subtle, cannot coexist.
[iii. The mental states or caittas. ]
23a. The mind and its mental states are necessarily generated
108
together.
The mind and its mental states cannot be independently generated.
23d. All things are necessarily generated with their characteristics.
All conditioned dharmas, physical matter, the mind (ii. 34), its mental states, and the sarhskdras disassociated from the mind (ii. 35), are necessarily generated with their samskrtalaksanas--arising, dura- tion, old age, and impermanence (ii. 46a).
23c. Sometimes with possession.
Among the conditioned dharmas, those that are integral to living beings (sattvdkhya, i. 10) are necessarily generated with the prdpti relative to each one of them (ii. 37b). There is no prdpti for the others. That is why the Karika says "sometimes. "
? 109
What are the mental states?
23c-d. The mental states are of five types, mahdbhumikas, etc.
The mental states are the mahdbhumikas, those that accompany all minds; the kusalamahabhumikas, those that accompany all good minds; the klesamahdbhumikas, those that accompany all defiled minds; the akusalamahdbhumikas, those that accompany all bad minds; and the parittaklesabhumikas, those that have small defile- ments for their sphere.
Bhumi or sphere signifies "place of origin. " The place of origin of a dharma is the bhumi of this dharma.
The "great sphere" or mahabhumi is so called because it is the
sphere, the place of origin, of great dharmas (that is, of dharmas of
great extension, that are found everywhere). The dharmas that are
inherent in the mahabhumi are called mahdbhumika, that is, the 10
dharmas that are always found in all minds. ? ***
What are the mahdbhumikas, the mental states found in all minds?
24. Sensation, volition, motion, desire for action, contact, discernment, memory, the act of attention, approval, and
m
absorption or concentration coexist in every mind.
112
According to the School, moment of the mind.
all the ten dharmas exist in every
1. Vedand is the threefold sensation, pleasant, painful, and neither- painful-nor-pleasant. (i. 14).
2. Cetand is that which conditions, informs, and shapes the mind {cittabhisamskara, i. 15; iv. l).
3. Samjnd is samjnana, that which grasps the marks (male, female, etc. ) of an object (yisayanimittodgrahana, i. 14, ii. 34b-d).
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113 4. Chanda is the desire for action.
5. Sparsa is the state of contact arisen out of the encounter of the organ, the object and the consciousness; in other words, the dharma by virtue of which the organ, the object, and the consciousness are as if they were touching one another (iii. 30).
6. Prajna, which the Karika designates under the name of matt, is 114
discernment of the dharmas (i. 2)
7. Smrti is non-failing with regard to the object; a dharma by virtue
of which the mind does not forget the object, by virtue of which it
115 cherishes it in order to so express it (abhilasativa).
116
8. Manaskara is the modification (dbhoga) of the mind; in other
words, "to bend" or "to apply" the mind towards an object. (Manaskara is explained as manasah kdrah or manah karoty dvarjayati, ii. 72).
117 9. Adhimukti is approval.
10. Samddhi is the unity of the object with the mind (cittaikagrata): (agra = alambana, i. 33); this is the dharma by virtue of which the
118 mind, in an uninterrupted series, remains on an object (viii. 1)
How do we know that these ten mental states, distinct in nature, coexist in one and the same mind?
Subtle, unquestionably, are the specific characteristics of the mind and its mental states. One discerns them, only with difficulty even when one is content to consider each of the mental states as developing in a homogeneous series; how much more so when one envisions them in the (psychological) moment (ksana) in which they all exist. If the differences of the taste of vegetables, tastes that we know through a material organ, are difficult to distinguish, how much more so is this true with non-material dharmas that are perceived through the mental consciousness.
***
The "sphere" of the good dharmas of great extension is termed kusalamahabhumi. The mental states that arise from this sphere are termed kusalamahabhumikas: the dharmas that are found in all good minds.
? 25. Faith, diligence, aptitude, indifference, respect, fear, two
roots, non-violence, and energy are found only in a good mind,
119 and are found in all good minds.
These ten dharmas are always found in all good minds. 12
1. Sraddha or faith is clarification of the mind. ? According to 121
another opinion, it is adherence to the doctrine of the results of actions (vi. 78b), to the Three Precious Ones (vi. 73c), and to the Truths.
2. Apramdda or diligence is bhavand, that is, the taking possession
122 of, and the cultivation of good dharmas.
[Objection. ] The taking possession of and the cultivation of good dharmas is none other than the good dharmas being grasped and cultivated. How can you make a partial mental dharma of diligence?
Diligence is application to good dharmas. One says, by metaphor, that it is bhavana (cultivation). By this fact, it is the cause of bhavana.
123
According to another school, mind.
diligence is the guarding of the
3. Prasrabdhi is the dharma through which the mind is clever, 124
light, and apt.
125
But, [the Sautrantikas observe, ] does not the Sutra speak of the
126 prasrabdhi of the body?
The Sutra speaks of the prasrabdhi of the body as it speaks of bodily sensation. (All sensation is, in its nature, mental; sometimes the Sutra terms the sensation that has for its support the five organs constituted of atoms a "bodily" sensation associated with the five sense consciousnesses [ii. 7a]. In the same way that prasrabdhi of the mind depends on the five organs, prasrabdhi of the five sense conscious- nesses is termed "prasrabdhi of the body. ")
[The Sautrantikas answer:] How can the prasrabdhi of the body, thus understood, be counted among the parts of Bodhi (sambodhyanga, vi. 68)? In fact, the five sense consciousnesses are of the sphere of Kamadhatu, for they are not "absorbed," that is, they are not produced in the state of absorption, whereas the parts of Bodhi are "absorbed" (vi. 71a). Thus, in our opinion, in the Sutra alluded to, prasrabdhi of the body is aptitude of the body (kayakarmanyata, viii. 9).
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[The Sarvastivadins:] How can prasrabdhi of the body, thus understood, be a part of Bodhi? The aptitude of the body is, in fact, impure.
[The Sautrantikas:] But it is propitious to prasrabdhi of the mind,
which is a part of Bodhi; for this reason it receives the name "part of
Bodhi. " The Sutra often expresses itself in this manner. For example,
it teaches that joy constitutes the part of Bodhi called joy (prtUsam- 127
bodhyanga, vi. 71). It teaches that hostility and the causes of hostility 128
constitute the obstacle of wickedness {vyapadanivarana, v. 59). It
teaches that insight, resolution, and effort constitute "the element of
speculative consciousness" (prajnaskandha, vii. 76): for neither resolu-
tion, which is by its nature discursive thought (vitarka), nor effort,
which is by nature energy, are speculative consciousness; but they are
favorable to this consciousness and are, consequently, considered as 129
consciousness. Prasrabdhi of the body, being a condition of prasrab- dhi of the mind, is placed, as are these, with these, among the parts of Bodhi.
4. Upeksd or equanimity, is mental indifference, the dhanna by 13
which the mind remains equal, even, free from modification. ?
[The Sautrantikas:] If all minds are associated with attention, which is of the nature of "inflexion" or modification, how can all good minds be associated with equanimity, which is by its nature non-
inflexion?
[The Vaibhasikas:] We have already remarked on this: the specific
characteristics of the mind and its mental states are very difficult to know and determine.
[The Sautrantikas:] This is not the point: it is quite inadmissible
that the same mind be associated with mental states which repudiate
both modification and non-modification, and both pleasure and
131 displeasure.
132
[The Vaibhasikas: ] There is modification towards a certain
object, and non-modification with regard to another object: hence, there is no contradiction to the coexistence of modification and non- modification.
? [The Sautrantikas:] If this is so, then associated mental states cannot be on the same object, which is contradictory to your definition of associated dharmas (ii. 34d). For us, the dhannas that are con- tradictory, here manaskdra and upeksd and otherwise vitarka and vicara (ii. 33), do not exist simultaneously, but successively.
5-6. We shall explain respect and fear later (ii. 32).
7-8. The two roots of good are absence-of-desire and absence-of-
hatred {advesa, iv. 8). Absence-of-error, the third root of good, is
"discernment," prajnd, by nature: hence it is already named among the 133
134 9. Non-violence is non-cruelty.
135 10. Energy is endurance of the mind.
Such are the mental states that are associated with all good minds.
***
The sphere of the mahaklesadharmas is termed mahdklesabhumi. The mental states that belong to this sphere, that is, the mental states that exist in all defiled minds, are klesamahdbhumikas.
What are the defiled mental states?
26a-c. Error, non-diligence, idleness, disbelief, torpor, and dissipation are always and exclusively in soiled minds.
mahabhumikas.
1. Error, moha is ignorance (avidya, iii. 29), non-knowledge, 136
non-clarity.
2. Non-diligence, pramdda, the opposite of diligence, is the non-
taking possession of and the non-cultivation of good dharmas.
3. Idleness, kaustdya, is the opposite of energy.
4. Disbelief, dsraddhya, is the opposite of faith.
5. Torpor, styana, is the opposite of aptitude (vii. lld).
The Abhidharma (Jndnaprasthana, TD 26, p. 925bl0) says: "What
is torpor? The weight of the body, the weight of the mind, inaptitude of the body, inaptitude of the mind. Torpor of the body and torpor of the mind are termed torpor. "
Now torpor is a "mental state. " How can one have torpor of the body?
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Chapter Two
In the same way that there is bodily sensation (as above, p. 191).
137
1. But the Mula Abhidharma
are ten klesamahdbhumikas, but on the other hand, it omits torpor from its enumeratioa What are these ten?
They are disbelief (asrdddhya), idleness (kausidya), default of memory (musitasmrtita), distraction (viksepa), ignorance (avidyd), non-observation (asamprajanya), wrong judgment (ayonisomanas- kdra), wrong resolution (mithyddhimoksa), dissipation {auddhatya), and diligence (j? ramdda).
13S>
How foolish you are (devdndmpriyah), grasping the letter of the
140 text and ignoring its intention (prdptijno na tv ispijnah)\
What is its intention?
Five of the dharmas mentioned in the Abhidharma as klesa- mahdbhumikas, namely default of memory, distraction, non- observation, wrong judgment, and wrong resolution, have already been mentioned as mahabhumikas: there is no reason to name them again as klesamahabhumikas. The same for the root of good non-error: even though it is a kusalamahabhumika, it is not catalogued as such, because, being prajna by nature, it is classed as a mahabhumika (as above, note 114).
In fact default of memory is nothing other than defiled memory (smrti). Distration (iv. 58) is defiled samddhi. Non-observation is defiled prajna. Wrong judgment is defiled judgment. And wrong resolution is defiled resolution.
This is why the Mula Abhidharma lists ten klesamabhdbhilmikas in admitting the state of mahabhumikas to a state of defilement.
***
6. Dissipation, auddhatya, is non-calmness of the mind (vii. lld) Only these six dharmas are klesamahdbhumikas.
***
138
Is a mahabhumika also a klesamahdbhumika'i
says, on the one hand that there
? There are four alternatives: 1. sensation, ideas, volition, contact and desire (chanda) are only mahdbhumikas; 2. disbelief, idleness, igno- rance, dissipation, and diligence are only kleUmahdbhumikas\ 3. memory, samddhi, prajna, judgment, and resolution belong to both categories; and 4. the other dharmas {klesamahdbhumikas, etc. )
Certain Masters (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 220a22) maintain that distraction is not wrong samddhi: the alternatives then are differently established: distraction is added to the second category, and samddhi is put into the third.
2. As for the statement: "the Mula Abhidharma omits torpor from its enumeration" of the klesamahdbhumika, it is admitted that torpor is associated with all defiled dharmas.
If torpor is omitted from the list, is this my fault or the fault of the author of the Abhidharma?
141
The Abhidharmikas
explain the omission: torpor should be
named; but it is not named because it is favorable to samddhi. In fact,
they claim, persons with a torpid disposition {stydnacarita), or dull
142
persons, realize meditation sooner than do dissipated persons.
But who is dull without being dissipated? Who is dissipated
without being dull? Torpor and dissipation always go together.
Yes, torpor and dissipation go together. But the term carita indicates excess.
The person in whom torpor dominates is called "dull,"
even though he is also dissipated.
We know this as well as you do; but it is by reason of their nature
that the dharmas are classified into different categories. It is then established that six dharmas are klesamahabhumikas, because only they are produced in all defiled minds.
*##
26c-d. Disrespect and the absence of fear are always and exclusively found in bad minds.
These two dharmas, which will be defined below (ii. 32) are always found in bad minds. Consequently they are called akusalamahd-
143
bhumikas.
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Chapter Two
27. Anger, enmity, dissimilation, jealousy, stubbornness, hypo-
crisy, greed, the spirit of deception, pride-intoxication, the 144
spirit of violence, etc. , are the panttaklesabhumikas.
They are called this because they have parittaklesas for their spheres. Parjittaklesa, "small defilement," means avidyd or ignorance (iii. 28c-d) in an isolated state, not associated with lust, etc (kevala avenikt avidyd, v. 14).
They are only associated with ignorance, with the ignorance that is
cast off through the Path of Meditation, ignorance of the sphere of
mental consciousness. This is why they are called parittaklesa-
145
These will be studied in the Fifth Chapter (v. 46 and following).
***
We have studied five categories of mental states. There are other
mental states that are indeterminate, aniyata, which are sometimes
associated with a good mind, and sometimes with a bad or a neutral
mind: regret (kaukrtya, ii. 28), apathy (rniddha, v. 47, vii. lld), vitarka 146
***
How many mental states are necessarily produced with each mind of each class--with a good, bad, or neutral mind?
28a. The mind in Kamadhatu, when it is good, always consists of twenty-two mental states, as it is always associated with vitarka and vicara.
There are five classes of minds in Kamadhatu: 1) the good mind constitutes one class; 2-3) the bad mind constitutes two classes,
bhumikas.
(ii. 33), vicara, etc.
? accordingly as it is "independent," that is, associated only with
ignorance, or associated with the other defilements, lust, etc. ; and 4-5)
the neutral mind that is free of retribution constitutes two classes
according as it is soiled, that is, associated with satkdyadrsti or with 147
antagrahadrsti (v. 3), or not defiled, that is, "possessing retribution," etc. (i. 37, ii. 71).
The mind in Kamadhatu is always associated with vitarka and vicara (ii. 33a-b). This mind, when it is good, consists of twenty-two mental states: ten mahabhumikas, ten kusalamahabhumikas, plus two aniyatas, namely vitarka and vicara.
When the good mind includes regret {kaukftya), the total rises to twenty-three.
148
Kaukftya is, properly, the nature of that which is wrongly done,
but here kaukftya means a mental state that has for its object kaukftya
in its literal sense, namely regret relative to an error. In the same way,
vimoksamukha which has sunyatd or absence of dtman for its object is
termed sunyatd (viii. 24-25); non-desire which has asubha or the
loathsome (vi. llc-d) for its object is called asubha. In the same way, in
the world, one says that the village, the town, the country, are all
brought together, designating thus the inhabitants by the name of the
location. Kaukftya in its proper sense is the support, the raison d'etre
of regret; hence regret is termed kaukftya. For the result receives the
What does the word kaukftya (regret) mean?
name of its cause, for example in the text: "The six sparsdyatanas are 149
previous actions. "
But how can one designate "regret over errors," regret relative to
an action not done, by the name of kaukftya?
Because one says "It is poorly done on my part not to have done
this action," thus designating an omission as "done" or "poorly done. " When is regret good?
When it is relative to a good action omitted or to a bad action
accomplished. It is bad when it is relative to a bad action omitted or to a good action accomplished.
These two types of regret bear on the two categories of action.
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29a. A bad mind consists of twenty mental states when it is independent of, or associated with views (drsti);
1. An independent mind is a mind associated with ignorance 15
(avidya, v. l), but not associated with other defilements, lust, etc ?
A bad mind associated with views is a mind associated with
mithyddrsti, with drspipardmarsa, or with stlavratapardmarsa (v. 3); a mind associated with satkdyadrsti and with antagrdhadrspi is not bad, but defiled-neutral.
In these two cases, a bad mind consists of ten mahdbhumikas, six klesamahabhumikas, two akusalarnahdbhurnikas, plus two aniyatas, namely vitarka and vicdra.
View itself is not counted, for a view is a certain type oi prajnd, and m
prajnd is a mahdbhilmika.
29b. Twenty-one, when it is associated with one of the four
defilements, with anger, etc. , with regret.
2. Associated with lust, hostility, pride, or doubt (rdgaf pratigha, mdna, vicikitsd, v. l), a bad mind consists of twenty-one mental states, the same as above, plus lust or hostility, etc.
Associated with anger, etc. , that is, with one of the minor defilements (upaklesas) enumerated above, ii. 27. -
30a. A neutral mind consists of eighteen mental states when it is defiled;
In Kamadhatu, a neutral mind, that is, a mind free of retribution, is defiled, that is covered by defilement when it is associated with satkdyadrsti or antagrdhadrspi. This mind consists of ten maha- bhumikas, six klesamahdbhumikas, plus vitarka and vicdra.
30b. In the contrary case, twelve.
Not defiled, a neutral mind consists of twelve mental states: the ten mahdbhumikas, vitarka, and vicdra.
The Foreigners believe that regret can be indefinite, for example, in a dream. An indefinite-non-defiled mind associated with indefinite regret would consist of thirteen mental states.
? 30c-d. Apathy is not in contradiction to any category; wherever it is found, it is added.
Apathy (middha, v. 47, viilld) can be good, bad, or neutral. The mind with which it is associated would then consist of twenty-three mental states instead of twenty-two, twenty-four instead of twenty- three, etc. , accordingly as it is good and free from regret, or good and accompanied by regret, etc.
31a. The bad mental states, regret and apathy, are absent from the First Dhyana.
In the First Dhyana there is missing 1) hostility (pratigha, v. l), 2) the series anger, etc. (ii. 27), with the exception of hypocrisy (sathya), deception {maya), and pride-intoxication {mada)\ 3) the two akusala- mahdbhumikaSy disrespect and the absence of fear (ii. 32); plus 4) regret, since dissatisfaction (ii. 8b-c) is absent, and 5) laziness, since food through the mouth (iii. 38d) is absent. The other mental states of
152 Kamadhatu exist in the First Dhyana.
31b. Further on, vitarka is also missing absent from the intermediate dhyana.
Furthermore, vitarka is absent from the intermediate dhyana. 31c Further on, again, vicara, etc.
In the Second Dhyana and above, up to and including Arupya- 153
dhatu, vicara, hypocrisy, and deception are also absent. Pride- intoxication exists in the three spheres of existence (v. 53c-d).
154
According to the Sutra, hypocrisy and deception exist as far as
the world of Brahma, but not above the heavens where beings are in
assembly. Mahabrahma, sitting in his assembly, was questioned by the
Bhiksu Asvajit: "Where do the four primary elements completely
disappear? " Incapable of responding, he boasted: "I am Brahma, great
155
Brahma, the Lord, the Creator, the Transformer, the Generator, the
Nourisher, the Father of all. " Finally, when Asvajit was leaving the
assembly, Brahma counselled him to return to the presence of the
15<s Master and ask him.
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We have seen how many mental states are associated with each type of mind of the three spheres of existence. We have to define the mental states enumerated above.
What is the difference between disrespect (ahn) and absence of fear (anapatrapya)?
157 32a. Disrespect is lack of veneration.
158
Lack of respect, that is, the lack of veneration, the lack of fearful
submission with regard to the qualities {maitri, karund, etc. ) of oneself and others, and with regard to persons endowed with these qualities, is ahrtkya; ahn is a mental dharma opposed to respect.
32b. Anapatrapya or atrapa is the dharma that causes a person 159
not to see the unpleasant consequences of his transgressions.
"Transgressions" are what are scorned by good persons.
"Unpleasant consequences" are called in the Karika bhaya or fear, because these unpleasant consequences engender fear.
The condition of the person who does not see the consequences of transgression--the dharma that produces this condition,--is anapa- trapya or atrapd.
[Objection:] What do you understand by the expression "does not see the unpleasant consequences" abhayadarsitval Whether you in- terpret this phrase as abhayasya darsitvam, "he sees that there are no unpleasant consequences," or as bhayasya adarsitvam, "he does not see that there are unpleasant consequences," none of these explanations is satisfactory. In the first case, we have defiled prajna, an inexact knowledge; in the second case, we simply have ignorance.
The expression abhayadariitvam signifies neither "view" (defiled prajnd), nor "non-view" (ignorance). It describes a special dharma that is placed among the minor defilements (upaklesas, v. 46), which has false views and ignorance for its cause, and which is termed anapatrapya (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 180al7).
? 160
According to other Masters, dhrikya is the absence of shame
vis-a-vis oneself, in the commission of a transgression; anapatrdpya is
161
the absence of shame vis-a-vis others.
But cannot one consider oneself and others at the same time?
We do not say that the two forms of the absence of shame are
simultaneous.
There is dhrikya, an outflowing of lust, when the person does not
experience the shame of transgression when considering oneself; there is anapatrdpya, an outflowing from mental confusion, when he does not experience the shame of transgression when considering others.
Hri and apatrdpya are opposed to these two bad dhanna. Their definition, according to the first theory, is "respect, veneration, fearful submission/' or "fear of the consequence of transgression;" according to the second theory, "modesty," "respect for humans. "
Some think that affection (preman) and respect (gaurava) are the same thing.
162 32c. Affection is faith.
Affection is of two types, defiled and non-defiled (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 151a8).
The first is attachment; for example, affection for wife and sons. The second is faith; for example, affection for a master or for virtuous persons.
1. All faith is not affection, namely faith with regard to the Truths of Suffering and the Arising of Suffering.
2. All affection is not faith, namely defiled affection.
3. Faith can be affection, namely faith with regard to the Truths of the Extinction of Suffering and the Path.
4. The other mental states, the dhannas disassociated from the mind, etc. , are neither faith nor affection.
According to another opinion,--ours,--faith is a belief in qualities: affection is produced from this belief. Affection is then not faith, but the result of faith.
32c. Respect is hrt.
m
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As we have explained above (32a), respect is veneration, etc.
1. All hri is not respect, namely hri with respect to the Truths of 164
Suffering and the Origin of Suffering.
2. H n with respect to the Truths of the Extinction of Suffering and
the Path is also respect.
According to another opinion, respect is veneration; shame is born
from respect and this shame is called hri. Hence respect, the cause of hri, is not hri.
There are four alternatives concerning affection and respect:
1. Affection which is not respect, namely affection with regard to
wife, to children, to companions in the religious life, to pupils.
2. Respect which is not affection, namely respect with regard to
someone else's master, to a person endowed with qualities, etc.
3. Respect which is affection, namely respect with regard to one's
master, one's father, mother, etc.
4. Neither respect nor affection for other persons.
32d. Both exist in Kamadhatu and Rupadhatu.
Affection and respect do not exist in Arupyadhatu.
But you have said that affection is faith, and that respect is hri: now faith and hri are kusalamahdbhumikas (ii. 25): hence affection and respect should exist in Arupyadhatu.
Affection and respect are of two types: relative to dharmas and relative to persons. The text refers to the second type; the first type does exist in all three spheres of existence.
33a-b. Vitarka and vicara are grossness and subtlety of the 165
mind.
The grossness, that is, the gross state of the mind is termed vitarka\ the subtlety, that is, the subtle state of the mind is termed vicara. How can vitarka and vicara be associated with the mind at one and the same time? Can the mind, at one and the same time, be both gross and subtle?
166
According to one opinion, we may compare vicara to cold water,
the mind to cheese which floats on the surface of this cold water, and
? vitarka to the heat of the sun which operates on this cheese. By reason of the water and sun, the cheese is not too runny nor too hard. In this same way, vitarka and vicdra are associated with the mind: it is neither too subtle, by reason of vitarka, nor too gross, by reason of vicdra.
But, we would say, it follows from this explanation that vitarka and vicdra are not grossness and subtlety of mind, but the cause of its grossness and its subtlety: the cold water and the warm light of the sun are not the hard or the runny state of the cheese, but rather the cause of these states.
Other objections present themselves. Grossness and subtlety of
mind are relative things. They admit of many degrees: a mind of the
First Dhyana is subtle in comparison with a mind in Kamadhatu, but
gross in comparision with a mind in the Second Dhyana; the qualities
and the defilements can be more or less gross or subtle in one and the
same stage, for they are divided into nine categories. Thus, if vitarka
and vicdra are grossness and subtlety of the mind, we would have to 167
admit that they both exist up to the highest stage of Arupyadhatu. Now they cease at the Second Dhyana, and adding to this the fact that no specific or generic differences can be established between grossness and subtlety, one then cannot differentiate vitarka and vicdra.
According to another opinion, [that of the Sautrantikas,] vitarka 168
and vicdra are the "factors of voice. " The Sutra says in fact, "It is after having examined, after having judged (vitarkya, vicdrya) that one
169 speaks, not without having examined, not without having judged. "
The factors of voice that are called gross are called vitarkas; those that are subtle are called vicaras. (According to this explanation, we should understand vitarka and vicdra not as two distinct dhannas, but rather a collection of mind and mental states which provoke speech, and which is sometimes gross, sometimes subtle. )
[The Vaibhasikas:] What contradiction is there in two dharmas, the first (vitarka) gross, and the second (vicdra) subtle, being associated with the same mind?
[The Sautrantikas:] There would not be any contradiction if these two dharmas were specifically different; for example, sensations and ideas--although the first are gross and the second subtle (i. 22)--can
The Indriyas 203
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coexist. But two states of the same species, one in a strong state and the other in a weak state, one gross and one subtle, cannot coexist.
