Cittanityata, Cittānityatā, Citta-anityata: 1 definition
Introduction:
Cittanityata 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Chittanityata.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraCittānityatā (चित्तानित्यता) refers to the “impermanence of the mind”, as defined in an appendix of the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI. Accordingly, Among the conditioned dharmas, the impermanence of the mind (cittānityatā) is very easy to detect. Thus the Buddha said: “Sometimes worldly people (pṛthgjana) recognize the impermanence of the body (kāyānityatā) but do not recognize the impermanence of the mind (cittānityatā). Some worldly people say that the body is eternal, but the mistake that holds the mind to be eternal is even more fatal. Why? It may be that the body will last for ten years or twenty years, whereas the mind, night and day, disappears each moment, arising as one thing, perishing as another, without stopping for a single moment. On the point of arising, it is born one thing; on the point of perishing, it dies another thing”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Anityata, Citta.
Full-text: Dharmanairatmya, Cittasmrityupasthana.
Relevant text
Search found 1 books and stories containing Cittanityata, Cittānityatā, Citta-anityata, Citta-anityatā; (plurals include: Cittanityatas, Cittānityatās, anityatas, anityatās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 4 - The impermanence of the mind (cittānityatā) < [Chapter XXXI - The Thirty-seven Auxiliaries to Enlightenment]
E.1: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna) < [Abhidharma auxiliaries (E): Detailed study of the auxiliaries]