Functions of Citta in the Sense-Door Process and in the Mind-Door Process - Mano-dvārāvajjana-citta

The pañca-dvārāvajjana-citta is the 'forerunner' because it arises before pañca-viññānas (seeing, hearing, etc.). When it adverts to an object which has contacted the eye-sense, it adverts through the eye-door and it is eye-door-adverting-consciousness (cakkhudvārāvajjana-citta). When it adverts to an object which has contacted the ear-sense it is ear-door- adverting-consciousness (sota-dvārāvajjana-citta). The pañca- dvārāvajjana is named after the sense-door through which it adverts to the object. The pañca-dvārāvajjana arises countless times a day, but we do not notice it. Whenever there is seeing, the eye-door-adverting-consciousness (cakkhu-dvārāvajjana-citta) has adverted already to the visible object which has impinged on the eye-sense, and it has fallen away already. Whenever there is hearing or any one of the other pañca-viññānas, the pañca- dvārāvajjana-citta has adverted to the object already and it has fallen away already.

 

The pañca-dvārāvajjana-citta is succeeded by the other cittas of the sense-

door process which experience that same object. When that process is over,

the object is experienced through the mind-door. First there are bhavanga-

cittas and then the mano-dvārāvajjana-citta (mind-door-adverting-

consciousness) performs the function of āvajjana (adverting) through the

mind-door.

  Thus there are two kinds of citta which perform the function of adverting (āvajjana-kicca): the pañca-dvārāvajjana-citta adverts to the object through one of the five sense-doors and the mano-dvārāvajjana-citta adverts to the object through the mind-door. The mano-dvārāvajjana-citta is an ahetuka kiriyācitta; it is not accompanied by unwholesome roots (akusala hetus) or by beautiful roots (sobhana hetus). After it has adverted to the object it is followed by kusala cittas or by akusala cittas.