The Sobhana Cittas in Our Life - Sobhana cittas as maha-kusala cittas

In the Abhidhamma we learn that there are eight types of mahā-kusala cittas, kusala cittas of the sensuous plane of consciousness. Why isn't there only one type? The reason is that each type has its own conditions through which it arises. If we know about these different types and if we can be aware of them when their characteristics present themselves, it will help us not to take them for self. Four types of maha-kusala cittas arise with somanassa (pleasant feeling) and four types arise with upekkhā (indifferent feeling). We would like to have kusala cittas with somanassa, because we cling to somanassa. However, one cannot force somanassa to arise. Sometimes we perform dāna with somanassa, sometimes with upekkhā. It depends on conditions whether somanassa or whether upekkhā arises with the mahā-kusala citta. Four types are accompanied by wisdom : four types are not accompanied by wisdom. We may, for example, help others without paññā or with paññā. When we realize that helping is kusala, or when we are aware of the nāma or rūpa appearing at that moment, there is paññā arising with the mahā-kusala citta. Four types are asankhārika (unprompted, spontaneous, not induced by someone else or by one's own consideration) and four types are sasankhārika (prompted, by someone else or by self-inducement) The eight types of mahā-kusala cittas are the following:

        

         1. Accompanied by pleasant feeling, with wisdom, unprompted

             (Somanassa-sahagatam, ñāna-sampayuttum, asankhārikam ekam)  

         

         2. Accompanied by pleasant feeling, with wisdom, prompted 

            (Somanassa-sahagatam, ñāna-sampayuttam, sasankhārikam

            ekam)       

   

         3. Accompanied by pleasant feeling, without wisdom, unprompted 

            (Somanassa-sahagatam, ñāna-vippayuttam, asankhārikam

            ekam)          

  

         4. Accompanied by pleasant feeling, without wisdom, prompted

            (Somanassa-sahagatam, ñāna-vippayuttam, sasankhārikam

            ekam)            

 

         5. Accompanied by indifferent feeling, with wisdom, unprompted

             (Upekkhā-sahagatam,  ñāna-sampayuttam, asankhārikam

             ekam)         

  

        6. Accompanied by indifferent feeling,  with wisdom, prompted

            (Upekkhā-sahagatam, ñāna-sampayuttam, sasankhārikam

            ekam)          

   

         7. Accompanied by indifferent feeling, without wisdom, unprompted

             (Upekkhā-sahagatam, ñāna-vippayuttam, asankhārikam ekam)       

     

         8. Accompanied by indifferent feeling, without  wisdom, prompted

             (Upekkhā-sahagatam, ñāna-vippayuttam, sasankhaikam ekam)  

  Mahā-kusala cittas are not the only kind of kāmāvacara sobhana cittas (beautiful cittas which are of the sensuous plane of consciousness). Mahā- kusala cittas are cittas which are cause; they can motivate kusala kamma through body, speech or mind which is capable of bringing results. There are also mahā-vipākacittas, which are results of kusala kamma performed with mahā-kusala cittas. Mahā-vipākacittas are sobhana (beautiful) cittas as well, arising with sobhana cetasikas. People's deeds are not the same and thus the results cannot be the same. People are born with different patisandhi-cittas (rebirth-consciousness). Patisandhi-cittas are vipākacittas ; they are the result of kamma.