Akusala Citta: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Akusala Citta means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Akusala Citta in Theravada glossary
Source: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

Part of Kamavacara Cittas.

12 akusala cittas are

  • 8 lobha mula cittas or greediness rooted consciousness,
  • 2 dosa mula cittas or hatred/ aversion rooted consciousness, and
  • 2 moha mula cittas or ignorance/ delusion rooted consciousness.
Source: Dhamma Study: Introduction to the Dhamma

Immoral or unskillful consciousness.

See Citta.

Source: Dhamma Study: Cetasikas

Akusala citta and akusala cetasika are akusala dhammas, dhammas which are unskilful, unprofitable, unclean, impure. By akusala one harms oneself, other people or both oneself and other people.

Akusala citta is bound to arise more often than kusala citta because there have been countless akusala cittas in the past and thus the conditions for akusala have been accumulated.

There are twelve types of akusala cittas and they are classified according to their roots.

They are:

  • 8 types of citta rooted in attachment, lobha-mula-citta
  • 2 types of citta rooted in aversion, dosa-muIa-citta
  • 2 types of citta rooted in ignorance, moha-mula-citta{GL_NOTE:7001:}

The cittas rooted in attachment have ignorance, moha, and attachment, lobha, as their roots;
the cittas rooted in aversion have moha and aversion, dosa, as their roots;
the cittas rooted in moha have moha as their only root.

There is ignorance with each akusala citta.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Discover the meaning of akusala citta in the context of Theravada from relevant books on Exotic India

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