The concept of Citta in Buddhism a philosophical study with special reference to Nikaya

Abstract

The word citta in Pand#257;and#7735;i language and generally interpreted into English is knowing or cognizing . Specific meaning is awareness or thinking of the objects: visible objects, audible objects, olfactory objects, taste objects, tangibles objects, and ideation thinkable objects that related to the internal six senses. The word citta translated into English as mind, consciousness,thought, mental ideation, heart, etc. In this thesis citta is translated as consciousness . According to Pand#257;and#7735;i literature, the word citta has been dissected into four ways i.e. characteristic, function, manifestation, and proximate cause. The characteristic of consciousness is awareness of the objects. The function of consciousness is leading its associated consciousness concomitantsor mental factors. The manifestation of consciousness is repeated appearance again and again. A proximate cause of consciousness is mind and matter. The current work discusses the basis on these four kinds of classification. In chapter II, the thesis aims to highlight the topic of the manifestation of consciousness that series of consciousness and relation. In chapter III, the author aims to emphasize the issues and concerns linked with the function of consciousness that consciousness concomitants or mental factors. Chapter IV discusses that different kinds of consciousness such as unwholesome consciousness (akusalacitta), wholesome consciousness (kusala-citta), resultant consciousness (vipand#257;ka-citta), and functional consciousness (kriya-citta). Chapter V accentuates meditative consciousness or culmination of consciousness and super-normal power of consciousnesses and Nibband#257;na that causes the cessation of mind and matter. Chapter VI by encompasses an overviewof all the chapters and conclusive remarks. newline