Concerning the Bases on which Consciousness depends in the three realms of existence.
1. The Sensual Realm of Becoming (Kamabhava) has Six Bases, and Seven Elements of the Citta these being:
a) Eye Base... Eye Consciousness Element(Cakkhu Vinnan& #3642;a Dhatu)
b) Ear Base... Ear Consciousness Element(Sota Vinnan& #3642;a Dhatu )
c) Nose Base... Nose Consciousness Element(Ghana Vinnan& #3642;a Dhatu )
d) Tongue Base... Tongue Consciousness Element (Jivha Vinnan& #3642;a Dhatu )
e) Body Base... Body Consciousness Element(Kaya Vinnan& #3642;a Dhatu )
f) Heart Base... Mind Element(Mano Dhatu )
Mind Consciousness Element(Mano Vinnan& #3642;a Dhatu )
2. The Realm of Form has Three Bases, and Four Elements of the Citta these being:
a) Eye Base... Eye Consciousness Element.
b) Ear Base... Ear Consciousness Element.
c) Heart Base... Mind Element.
d) Mind Consciousness Element.
3. The Realm of Formlessness has no Bases, but has only the Mind Consci ousness Element.
The Bases and Elements and the Mind Consciousness Element are all, formed or created elements (Sankhata Dhatu). Nibbana is the un formed or un created element (Asankhata Dhatu), and departs from all the other elements,
The practice of Jhana is difficult, for even after much practice, it still tends. to deteriorate. If one reaches the non deteriorating Jhana, one goes to birth in the realms of Brahma. Then after a time one returns to birth in this realm, for these states are not permanent. Perhaps one is born human; one may then change and go towards the states of misfortune for one does not have a set of rules and regulations to guide one. It is like a soldier, who may rest in the trenches and get comfort for the time being before the fatal battle begins. Or, like a man who is in debt and who escapes and runs away from his creditors. On account of this, one should not get too attached to Jhana practice. One should hold back so that one only gets to Access (Upacara) Samadhi, which is in the sensual realm and has six sense bases. Then one should develop Insight (Vipassana), one should use Wisdom and examine actions which are done, and the results that they lead to (Hetu Phala).1
Our bodies are our own result. They were born, and birth must have taken place due to the process of becoming. Kamma leading to Becoming which is of an evil nature, leads to birth in the four Realms of Misfortune. Kamma leading to Becoming which is of a good nature, but weak, leads to birth as a Human Being, or in one of the six Heaven Realms. Kamma leading to Becoming which is of a good nature, and strong, leads to birth in the Realms of Form and Formlessness.
These processes of becoming arise due to Grasping (Upadana). If one gets free from the tendency of grasping, then the process of becoming ceases.
Birth is like fire because heat is like suffering (Dukkha), birth, old age, sickness and death. Kamma leading to Becoming is like the cause of the fire, and the tendency of grasping is what attaches one to the cause of the fire.
The third stage is concerned with Insight (Vipassana), which leads one to, become free from the present conditions. It is called the Transcendental State (Lokuttara Bhumi) and is like the soldier, mentioned in Chapter Six, who now has to face the enemy in the final battle.
In stage 2, when one stopped thoughts in the three times, one still retained knowledge. In other words, although one does not think of something, one still has knowledge of it. The knowledge which we have in the present, helps us to attain the sensual, form and formless realms of mind.
When we live in accordance with our natural state, the Citta which we have is of the type called Resultant (Vipaka) Citta.1 This is so, whether we do or do. not watch the heat base, for it is the result of previous actions.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")