The Characteristic of Lobha - Cittas rooted in attachment I

One may cling to the body with wrong view, in Pāli: ditthi. Ditthi is a cetasika which can arise with lobha-mūla-citta (citta rooted in attachment). Sometimes there is lobha without wrong view, ditthi, and sometimes with wrong view.

 

There are different kinds of ditthi. The belief in a 'self' is one kind of ditthi.

We may cling to mental phenomena as well as to physical phenomena with

the wrong view of self. Some people believe that there is a self who exists in

this life and who will continue to exist after this life-span is over. This is the

‘eternity-belief’. Others believe in a self who, existing only in this life, will be

annihilated after this life-span is over. This is the 'annihilation- belief'. Another

form of ditthi is the belief that there is no kamma which produces vipāka, that

deeds do not bring their results. There have always been people in different

countries who think that they can be purified of their imperfections merely by

ablution in water or by prayers. It is their belief that the results of ill deeds

they committed can thus be warded off. They do not know that each deed

can bring about its own result. We can only purify ourselves of imperfections

if the wisdom is cultivated which can eradicate them. If one thinks that deeds

do not bring about their appropriate results one may easily be inclined to

believe that the cultivation of wholesomeness is useless. This kind of belief

may lead to ill deeds and to the corruption of society.

 

There are eight types of lobha-mūla-citta and of these, four types arise with

wrong view, ditthi (in Pāli: ditthigata-sampayutta; sampayutta means:

associated with). Four types of lobha-mūla-citta arise without wrong view (in

Pāli: ditthigata-vippayutta; vippayutta means: dissociated from).

 

As regards the feeling which accompanies the lobha mūla-citta, lobha-mūla-

cittas can arise either with pleasant feeling or indifferent feeling, never

with unpleasant feeling. Of the four types of lobha-mūla-citta which are

accompanied by ditthi, two types arise with pleasant feeling somanassa (in

Pāli: somanassa-sahagata; sahagata means: accompanied by); they are

somanassa-sahagata (accompanied by pleasant feeling) ; two types arise

with indifferent feeling upekkhā (in Pāli: upekkhā - sahagata). For

example, when one clings to the view that there is a self which who will

continue to exist, the citta can be accompanied by pleasant feeling or by

indifferent feeling. Of the four lobha-mūla -cittas arising without ditthi, two

types are accompanied by pleasant feeling and two types are accompanied by

indifferent feeling. Thus, of the eight types of lobha-mūla-citta, four types

arise with pleasant feeling and four types arise with indifferent

feeling.


Topic 177