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Process of Apperception in the Attainment of Absorption

By Arjanyai
Oct 29, 2009
In the "Mind-Consciousness-Process" of Cognition (Mano-Vinnanฺa-Vithi), in the Sensual Realm, objects are of two types. These being:
a) Distinct Objects (Vibhutarammanฺa).
b) Indistinct Objects (Avibhutarammanฺa).

1. When a Mental-Object (Dhammarammanฺa) has appeared distinctly at the Mind-Door (Mano-Dvara), then in due order :-
i) The Citta in the Passive State (Bhavanga) vibrates for one mo-ment of the perception process. This is called Bhavanga-Vibrates (Bhavangacalana)
ii) Mind-Door-Adverting (Manodvaravajjana) arises for one moment investigating the object which has been presented at the Mind-Door, and then ceases.
iii) Seven Apperceptive-Moments-in-the-Sensual-Realm (Kamavacara-Javana) then arise and cease.
iv) The Citta which performs the function of Retaining (Tadalambana) the object arises for two moments and then ceases.
The Citta then drops to the Stream of the Passive-State. Mental Objects which arise in a process of the Citta, as above, are classed as Distinct Objects.

2. If, however, when a mental object appears at the Mind-Door;
i) The Citta in the Passive State vibrates for one moment, breaking, the Stream of the Passive-State.
ii) Mind-Door-Adverting to the object, arises for one moment.
iii) Seven Apperceptive-Moments-in-the-Sensual-Realm arise and cease.
The Citta then drops to the Stream of the Passive-state, and the Retaining-Citta (Tadalambana) cannot arise. Mental Objects which arise in a process of this type are classed as Indistinct Objects-(Avibhutarammanฺa).

3. In the Absorption-Apperception-Process (Appana-Javana-Vara), there are no categories of Distinct and Indistinct Objects. There is also no moment of the Citta which Performs the Function-of-Retaining (Tadalambana).
i) In the first moment of the Absorption-Apperception-Process, Mind-Door-Adverting (Manodvaravajjana) arises for one moment then ceases. Then in due order, there arises :
ii) The Citta of the Sensual-Realm for four or three successive moments of Apperception, depending on the ability of the person concerned, as to whether he is of a sluggish-intuition(Dandhabhinna), or of quick-intuition (Khippabhinna).

If the person is of Sluggish-Intuition, then one of the types of Consciousness of the Sensual-Realm Associated-with-Knowledge (Nana-Sampayutta-Kamavacara), arises for four moments of Apperception, which are, in due order:
a) Preparatory(Parikamma-Javana).
b) Approaching(Upacara-Javana).
c) Adapting(Anuloma-Javana).
d) Adopting(Gotrabhu-Javana),
For one who is of quick-intuition, there only arise the three Apperceptive Moments of:
a) Approaching.
b) Adapting.
c) Adopting.

Thus, the Citta of the Sensual-Realm Associated-with-Knowledge, having arisen for four or three Apperceptive Moments, then ceases, and is followed by :
iii) One of the twenty-six Sublime and Transcendentavl Apperceptions (Mahaggata-Javana and Lokuttara-Javana), whichever is suited to the person, then descends into the State-of-Absorption (Appana-Vithi) for one moment.
Following which, the Citta then falls to the Passive-State which is the end of the Absorption-Apperception-Process.

4. If the Absorption-Process (Appana-Vithi) is going to be a "Path-Process" (Magga-Vithi), then :
i) The Preparatory-Moment, which is the First Moment of Appercep-tion, overcomes the Grossest Defilements.
ii) The Approaching-Moment, which is the Second Moment, overcomes the Medium Defilements.
iii) The Adapting-Moment, which is the Third Moment, overcomes the Subtle Defilements.
iv) The Adopting-Moment, which is the Fourth Moment, then points the way to the Seeing of Nibbana.
In this Transcendental-Apperceptive-Process, the Adopting-Moment should be understood to be the moment when the Citta goes beyond the Mundane State and enters the Transcendental State, or it may be understood to mean that one leaves the Status (Gocara) of the ordinary person (Puthujjana), and attains the Status of the Noble Ones (Ariya).
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