Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

Chapter 5
VäTHIMUT or BHæMI
Planes of Existence
Vãthimutta Cittas
In the previous chapter the functions of vãthi-cittas have been
described. Now in this chapter, we shall deal with the functions
of 19 vãthimutta cittas, i.e. process-freed consciousness.
The 19 vãthimutta-cittas include 2 upekkhà-santiraõa cittas, 8
mahà-vipàka cittas and 9 mahaggata-vipàka cittas.
These cittas function as rebirth-consciousness for all living
beings to be reborn in appropriate planes of existence; then they
function as life-continuum for the whole existence of each living
being and finally as death-consciousness of the being.
As the planes of existence are involved in describing the
functions of these vãthimutta-cittas, this chapter is entitled as
“Bhåmi” as well as “Vãthimut”.
Fourfold Catukkas
‘Catukka’ means ‘a group of four’. The fourfold catukkas that will
be dealt with in this chapter are:
1 Bhåmi-catukka – four planes of existence,
2 Pañisandhi-catukka – four modes of rebirth,
3 Kamma-catukka – four kinds of action, and
4 Maranuppatti-catukka – fourfold advent of death.