The Characteristic of Lobha - Cittas rooted in attachment I
There are different kinds of ditthi. The belief in a 'self' is one kind of ditthi.
We may cling to mental phenomena as well as to physical phenomena with
the wrong view of self. Some people believe that there is a self who exists in
this life and who will continue to exist after this life-span is over. This is the
‘eternity-belief’. Others believe in a self who, existing only in this life, will be
annihilated after this life-span is over. This is the 'annihilation- belief'. Another
form of ditthi is the belief that there is no kamma which produces vipāka, that
deeds do not bring their results. There have always been people in different
countries who think that they can be purified of their imperfections merely by
ablution in water or by prayers. It is their belief that the results of ill deeds
they committed can thus be warded off. They do not know that each deed
can bring about its own result. We can only purify ourselves of imperfections
if the wisdom is cultivated which can eradicate them. If one thinks that deeds
do not bring about their appropriate results one may easily be inclined to
believe that the cultivation of wholesomeness is useless. This kind of belief
may lead to ill deeds and to the corruption of society.
There are eight types of lobha-mūla-citta and of these, four types arise with
wrong view, ditthi (in Pāli: ditthigata-sampayutta; sampayutta means:
associated with). Four types of lobha-mūla-citta arise without wrong view (in
Pāli: ditthigata-vippayutta; vippayutta means: dissociated from).
As regards the feeling which accompanies the lobha mūla-citta, lobha-mūla-
cittas can arise either with pleasant feeling or indifferent feeling, never
with unpleasant feeling. Of the four types of lobha-mūla-citta which are
accompanied by ditthi, two types arise with pleasant feeling somanassa (in
Pāli: somanassa-sahagata; sahagata means: accompanied by); they are
somanassa-sahagata (accompanied by pleasant feeling) ; two types arise
with indifferent feeling upekkhā (in Pāli: upekkhā - sahagata). For
example, when one clings to the view that there is a self which who will
continue to exist, the citta can be accompanied by pleasant feeling or by
indifferent feeling. Of the four lobha-mūla -cittas arising without ditthi, two
types are accompanied by pleasant feeling and two types are accompanied by
indifferent feeling. Thus, of the eight types of lobha-mūla-citta, four types
arise with pleasant feeling and four types arise with indifferent
feeling.