Part 6 - Vitality of matter (jivita rupa)

Just as cittas (consciousness) have vital force citta jivita (a cetasika called Jivtindriya), so also rupa has material jivita (vital force). This vital force is not found in the rupa forms caused by citta, climate and nutrition, because it is the rupa caused by kamma only. All living beings continue to survive because of Nama jivata (vitality of consciousness) and rupa jivita (vitality of matter). These two are the prime factors of survival. Without these, a being dies. Jivita keeps the body living and fresh. The absence of jivita in the rupa of a corpse makes it rot and decay. Juvita rupa is distributed evenly all over the body.