Nyanatiloka Buddhist Dictionary

towards the object (ávajjana)."Immediately thereupon there arises at the eye-door, and based on the sensitive eye-organ, theeye-consciousness, while performing the function of 'seeing' (dassana).... Immediately thereafter there arisesthe mind-element (TabI, 39, 55) performing the function of 'receiving' (sampaticchana) the object of that consciousness....''Immediately thereafter there arises... the mind-consciousness-element (Tab. I, 40, 41, 56), while'investigating' (santirana) the object received by the mind-element..."Immediately thereafter there arises the functional, rootless mind-consciousness-element (Tab. I, 71),accompanied by indifference, while performing the function of 'determining' (votthapana) the object......"Now, if the object is large, then immediately afterwards there flash forth 6 or 7 'impulsive moments'(javana-citta), constituted by one of the 8 wholesome, or 12 unwholesome, or 9 functional classes ofconsciousness (Tab. I, 1-8; 22-23; 72-80).''Now, if at the end of the impulsive moments, the object at the five-sense doors is very large, and at themind-door clear, then there arises, once or twice, one of the 8 root-accompanied, karma-resultant classes ofconsciousness (Tab. I, 42-49) of the sense-sphere, or one of the 3 rootless karma-resultantmind-consciousness-elements (Tab. I, 40, 41, 56).... Because this consciousness after the vanishing of theimpulsive moments, possesses the faculty continuing with the object of the subconsciousness, taking theobject of the subconsciousness as its own object, therefore it is called 'registering' (tadárarmmana, lit. 'thatobject', or 'having that as object')" (Vis.M. XIV, 115ff).If, however, the sense-object is weak, then it reaches merely the stage of 'impulsion' (javana), or of'determining' (votthapana); if very weak, only an excitation ot the subconsciousness takes place.The proeess of the inner or mind-consciousness, i.e. without participation of the 5 physical senses, is asfollows: in the case that the mind-objeet entering the mind-door is distinct, then it passes through the stagesof 'advertence at the mind-door' (manodvárávajjana), the 'impulsive stage' and the 'registering stage', beforefinally sinking into the subconscious stream. - (App.: citta-víthi).Literature: Aids to the Abhidhamma Philosophy, by Dr. C.B Dharmasena (with colour chart ofthe Cognitive Series; WHEEL 63/64). - The Psychology and Philosophy of Buddhism, by Dr.W. F. Javasuriya (Buddhist Missionary Socy., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).viññánañcáyatana: 'sphere of boundless consciousn is a name for the 2nd meditiative absorption in theimmateria sphere (s. jhána, 6).viññána-tthiti: 'abodes or supports of consciousness'. The texts describe 7 such abodes (e.g. A. VII, 41):(1) "There are beings who are different in body and different in perception, such as men, someheavenly beings, and some beings living in states of suffering (s. apáya). This is the 1st abode ofconsciousness.(2) "There are beings who are different in body but equal in perception, such as the first-borngods of the Brahmaworld (s. deva II). This is the 2nd abode of consciousness.(3) "There are beings who are equal in body but different in perception, such as the RadiantGods (ábhassara-deva). This is the 3rd abode of consciousness.(4) ''There are beings who are equal in body and equal in perception, such as the All-illuminatingGods (subhakinha-deva). This is the 4th abode of consciousness.(5) "There are beings ... reborn in the sphere of boundless space. This is the 5th abode of