Jhanacittas - Fifteen rupavacara cittas

There can be up to five stages of rūpa-jhāna in all and thus there are five types of rūpāvacara kusala cittas (rūpa-jhāna kusala cittas). Jhānacitta is kusala kamma of a high degree and thus its result is kusala vipāka of a high degree. Jhānacittas do not produce vipāka in the same lifespan: their result is rebirth in higher planes of existence: rebirth in rūpa-brahma planes. If rūpāvacara kusala citta is to produce the next rebirth, there are rūpāvacara kusala cittas arising shortly before the dying-consciousness. The patisandhi- citta of the next life is rūpāvacara vipākacitta which arises in the appropriate rūpa-brahma plane. It experiences the same meditation subject as the rūpāvacara kusala cittas arising shortly before the dying-consciousness of the preceding life. The five types of rūpāvacara kusala cittas produce five types of rūpāvacara vipākacittas.

 

Rūpāvacara vipākacitta can only perform the function of patisandhi,

bhavanga and cuti.

 

There are five types of rūpāvacara kiriyācittas which are the cittas of the

arahats who attain rūpa-jhāna. They do not have kusala cittas but kiriyācittas

instead. Thus there are fifteen rūpāvacara cittas in all. Summarizing them,

they are:

 

5 rūpāvacara kusala cittas

5 rūpāvacara vipākacittas

5 rūpāvacara kiriyācittas