Liberation

Lokuttara kusala citta, Supramundane Meritorious Thought, is associated with Magga nana which enables beings to escape from the three spheres of existence.

The Arising of Magga Nana

When the mind becomes calm and collected, and firmly fixed on the khandha aggregates, there gradually arises a penetrating insight into the real nature of the complex of khandha aggregates. The reality is that this complex is constituted only of nama and rupa, which are mere mental and physical phenomena ceaselessly rising and disappearing, constantly in a state of flux. On discerning thus, there arises the realization of the insubstantiality the voidness, and the non-self nature of the complex of khandha aggregates and that there is nothing attractive or pleasing about it.

Repeated contemplation of this real nature of the khanda aggregates results in the arising of intuitive knowledge that the aggregates of nama and rupa represent the embodiment of dukkha which no divine power is able to remove or banish. The spark of knowledge of the Path of Right View, sammaditthi magga nana, flashes in the mind leading to the realization that it is foolish to strive for the welfare and happiness of this complex of khandha aggregates which is a mass of unalloyed dukkha. Then for the first time in the whole of the cycle of existence, attachment to ones own khandha aggregates is eradicated. This eradication of attachment to the khandha aggregates is termed the relinquishing of the wrong view of Personality or Self, sakkaya ditthi. In addition to sakkaya ditthi, all other akusala dhammas which tend to lead to the realm of misery and woe are also simultaneously eliminated by this Sotapatti magga nana.

The second stage, the Sakadagami magga nana, weaken sensuous desire and ill will. This magga nana also has the effect of weakening the remaining defilement; as well.

The third stage, namely, the Anagami magga nana completely roots out sensuous desire and ill will.

This magga nana also has the effect of rooting out all the defilements that lead to the Sensuous Sphere.

The final stage, Arahatta magga nana, eradicates completely the remaining five defilements, viz., desire for the Fine Material Sphere, desire for the Non-material Sphere, conceit, restlessness and ignorance.

Just like a lamp that has exhausted its fuel, with the complete uprooting of all the defilements, there is no chance for the khandha aggregates to rise up again in a future existence. There is no more rebirth for an arahat.

All the four stages of magga nana are characterised by the arising of penetrating knowledge of the Four Ariya Truths:

1. The complex of the khandha aggregates is the embodiment of the Truth of dukkha , Dukkha Sacca.
2. Attachment to the complex of the khandha aggregates is the Truth of the origin of dukkha, Samudaya Sacca.
3. The cessation of attachment to the khandha aggregates is the Truth of the cessation of dukkha, Nirodha Sacca.
4. The four magga nanas that remove the attachment to the complex of the khandha aggregates are the Truth of the Path, Magga Sacca.

The Lokuttara kusala citta is explained in the text in a variety of ways, first under the name of JHANA.

This is shown in great elaboration. Further there are also nineteen other names such as Magga and Satipatthana under which this citta may be propounded in exactly the same manner of elaboration as under the name jhana. Although these nineteen further nomenclatures are not stated in full, they are to be understood in full as in the case of 'jhana'. Please see paras 277 to 356 of the text. It may be noted here that Lokuttara kusala citta is generally known under the name of Magga only, and the fact that it also goes under the name of Jhana or Satipatthana etc., is not widely known.