Functions of Citta in the Sense-Door Process and in the Mind-Door Process - Dvi-pañca- viññānas II

When sound has impinged on the ear-sense and the ear-door-adverting- consciousness (sota-dvārāvajjana-citta) has arisen and fallen away, hearing- consciousness arises. The function of hearing (in Pāli: savana-kicca) is another function of citta. Hearing is ahetuka vipāka. Two kinds of citta can perform the function of hearing: one is akusala vipāka and one is kusala vipāka.

 

Another function of citta is the function of smelling (in Pāli: ghāyana-

kicca). Two cittas which are both ahetuka can perform this function : one is

akusala vipāka and one is kusala vipāka.

 

There are two kinds of ahetuka citta which can perform the function of

tasting (in Pāli: sayana-kicca) : one is akusala vipāka and one is kusala

vipāka. When the citta which performs this function tastes, for example, a

sweet or salty flavour, it merely experiences that taste; it does not know the

name of the taste. The cittas which know the conventional name of the taste

arise later on.

 

The function of experiencing impressions through the body-sense

(in Pāli: phusana-kicca) is another function of citta. When an object

contacts the body-sense, the pañca-dvārāvajjana-citta adverts to the object

through the doorway of the body-sense. It is succeeded by body-

consciousness (kāya- viññāna) which performs the function of

experiencing an impression through the body-sense. Two kinds of citta which

are both ahetuka can perform this function: one is akusala vipāka and one

is kusala vipāka. The objects experienced by kāya-viññāna are the rūpas

which are: solidity (experienced as hardness or softness), temperature

(experienced as heat or cold), motion (experienced as motion or pressure).

 

Thus, summarizing the functions performed by the cittas which are the pañca-

viññānas, they are:

            the function of seeing (dassana-kicca)

            the function of hearing (savana-kicca)

            the function of smelling (ghāyana-kicca)

            the function of tasting (sāyana-kicca)

            the function of experiencing bodily impressions (phusana kicca)


Topic 186