Mahakusala Citta: 1 definition

Introduction:

Mahakusala 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»] — Mahakusala Citta in Theravada glossary
Source: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

Part of sobhana Cittas.

Mahakusala are cittas that arise as kusala cittas in kama bhumi.

There are 8 mahakusala cittas. They are

  1. somanassa sahagatam nana samyuttam asankharika mahakusala citta
  2. somanassa sahagatam nana samyuttam sasankharika mahakusala citta
  3. somanassa sahagatam nana vippayuttam asankharika mahakusala citta
  4. somanassa sahagatam nana vippayuttam sasankharika mahakusala citta
  5. upekkha sahagatam nana samyuttam asankharika mahakusala citta
  6. upekkha sahagatam nana samyuttam sasankharika mahakusala citta
  7. upekkha sahagatam nana vippayuttam asankharika mahakusala citta
  8. upekkha sahagatam nana vippayuttam sasankharika mahakusala citta

8 mahavipaka cittas are all the same with the exception just to change the name mahavipaka instead of mahakusala. And 8 mahakiriya cittas are also the same names with the exception to replace mahakiriya citta.

Here, nana means panna or wisdom. It is amoha cetasika.

1. The first mahakusala citta is somassa sahagatam nana samyuttam asankharika citta. This citta can be seen in case of a man offering robes to monks. He is well learned and he believes that kusala actions will give rise to kusala kamma as a seed to grow later to kusala plants. He is delighted to offer robes to monks. No one is urging him here to do this kusala action.

2. The second mahakusala citta can be seen in case of an adult who believes kamma and know dhamma very well. He does belong to enough properties to offer robes to monks. But at first, he did not. When his teacher or mother tells him to offer, he does the kusala. In that case he needs to be prompted and the second citta has to arise.

3. The third mahakusala citta can be observed in case of an adult who does not believe in kamma and itsimplication and he does not have wisdom of penetrative nature. But he give things to charity societies happily and no one is urging him.

4. The fourth mahakusala cittas can be seen in above case but only after he has been urged to do so by someone or even by his own mind. In all these actions, there is offering. This is detachment and associated with alobha or detachment. So all four cittas are kusala cittas. All are associated with somanassa or joy. The first two cittas have wisdom while latter two do not. In each pair one is automatic response that do not need to be prompted while another citta in the pair needs to be prompted.

If these actions are not associated with joy or happiness then there will be just non pleasant nor non unpleasant feeling that is upekkha. These four upekkha cittas can be thought in the same way as in cases of somanassa cittas.

Corresponding mahavipaka cittas have to arise as the result of stated 8 mahakusala cittas.

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 mahakusala citta in the context of Theravada from relevant books on Exotic India

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