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Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

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32<br />

Each of the above four paramathas may be scrutinized for their<br />

real existence. <strong>Science</strong> may dispute the existence of the mind<br />

because it cannot detect it. But the existence of citta which is<br />

consciousness of the senses in man and animals cannot be<br />

disputed by anyone.<br />

The existence of cetasikas such as lobha (greed), dosa (anger),<br />

màna (conceit), issà (jealousy), alobha (non-attachment), adosa<br />

(goodwill), etc., in men and animals is also apparent. But it is<br />

important to see them as separate entities and not as parts of the<br />

mind or different mental states. The unwholesome cetasikas like<br />

lobha, dosa, màna and issà can be completely eliminated from the<br />

mind by means of insight meditation.<br />

The existence of råpa as matter and energy is easily seen. But<br />

Nibbàna, being supramundane, cannot be perceived by the ordinary<br />

mind, but it can be observed by lokuttara (supramundane) cittas.<br />

It should be noted that all the paramatthas, in their ultimate<br />

sense, are formless and shapeless just as bundles of energy are<br />

formless and shapeless. They are invisible under the best microscope,<br />

but cittas, cetasikas and råpa can be seen by the samàdhi-eye.<br />

Nibbàna can be realized by the wisdom of the four paths. Each<br />

paramattha will be treated at length in the following chapters.<br />

Nàma and Råpa<br />

Both citta and cetasikas are aware of the senses.They are always<br />

bent towards the senses in order to pick up the senses, and thus<br />

they are collectively called ‘Nàma’.<br />

A man is made up of nàma and råpa (mind and body). Of the<br />

two, nàma is aware of the senses and råpa is not. So nàma is the<br />

leader and råpa, the follower. But in the senses sphere and the<br />

fine-material sphere, nàma needs the support of råpa for its arising.

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