Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

82
Pakiõõaka Cetasikas
(Particulars – 6)
These six cetasikas may associate both with sobhaõa and asobhaõa
cittas, but not with all of them. They associate only with those
cittas with which they should associate.
1 Vitakka – initial application or thought conception
2 Vicàra – sustained application or discursive thinking
3 Adhimokkha – decision or determination
4 Viriya – effort or energy or exertion
5 Pãti – rapture or interest
6 Chanda – wish, desire or will
1 Vitakka
Vitakka applies the citta and its concomitants onto the senseobject.
As the king’s favorite courtier introduces someone to
the king, likewise vitakka introduces the citta and its concomitants
to the object.
As explained above, manasikàra directs the citta and its
concomitants to the object whereas vitakka applies them onto
the object.
Vitakka, manasikàra and cetanà may be differentiated further
by comparing them with different persons in a boat racing to a
flag. Manasikàra is like the rudder – controller of the boat, vitakka
like the rowers in the hull of the boat, and cetanà like the foremost
rower who not only rows the boat himself but also urges others
to row to their best and then plugs the winning flag when the
boat gets to the destination.
As vitakka applies the citta and its concomitants to various
objects leading to various thought processes, it is also known
as thought conception.