Lokuttara cittas - How many types of lokuttara citta are there in all?

A.

Of the ten kinds of akusala kamma-patha there are four akusala kamma-

patha through speech which are: lying, slandering, rude speech and useless

talk. The sotāpanna has eradicated lying. He can still say unpleasant things

about others or use harsh speech, but not to the extent that it would lead to

rebirth in a woeful plane. The sotāpanna cannot be reborn in a woeful plane

any more. Useless talk, which is talk not connected with dana, sila or

bhāvanā, is not eradicated by the sotāpanna; it can only be eradicated by the

arahat.

B.

Why is it necessary to classify defilements in such a detailed way?

A.

Learning about the different ways of classifying defilements helps us to see

their different aspects. For instance, ditthi is classified under the group of

defilements known as the latent tendencies or proclivities (anusayas) and it

is also classified as one of the 'āsavas' or 'influxes', which is another group of

defilements. Furthermore, defilements are classified as ways of clinging

(upādānas); as we have seen, three classes of ditthi are classified under this

group of defilements. Defilements are also classified as 'bonds' (ganthas), as

'hindrances' (nīvaranas), and in several other ways. Each way of classifying

shows us a different aspect of defilements and thus we understand better

how deeply accumulated defilements are and how difficult it is to eradicate

them. Only magga-cittas (lokuttara kusala cittas) can eradicate them. Not

all defilements can be eradicated by the magga-citta of the first stage of

enlightenment.

B.

How many types of lokuttara citta are there in all? 

A.

There are eight types of lokuttara citta. There are four types of magga

-citta, because there is a magga-citta for each of the four stages of

enlightenment (the stages of the sotāpanna, the sakadāgāmī, the anāgāmī

and the arahat). There are four types of phala-citta (phala means fruit)

which are the four results of the four magga-cittas (lokuttara kusala cittas).

Only the magga-citta eradicates defilements; the phala-citta is vipāka, result

of the magga-citta.