Sheet 1
Vīthi
  Vīthi-citta [80]
    āvajjana [2]
    viññāṇa cittas [10]
    Sampaṭicchana [2]
    santīraṇa [3]
    javana [55]
    tadārammaṇa [8]
  Vīthi-mutta-citta [19]
  Glossary
    bhavaṅga
    manodvārāvajjana
    Javana
    tadārammaṇa
    Subtopic 5
  References
  Vīthi Process
    1. at the eye door
      seeing object
        Past
Bhavaṅga
        Vibrating
Bhavaṅga
        Arresting
Bhavaṅga
        Pañcadvārāvajjana
        Cakkhuviññāṇa
        Sampaṭicchana
        Santīraṇa
        Voṭṭhapana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Tadārammaṇa
        Tadārammaṇa
    ...
    2. at the mind-door (1)
      recalling object
        Bhavaṅga
        Bhavaṅga
        manodvārāvajjana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Tadārammaṇa
        Tadārammaṇa
    ...
    3. at the mind-door (2)
      naming object
        Bhavaṅga
        Bhavaṅga
        manodvārāvajjana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Tadārammaṇa
        Tadārammaṇa
    ...
    4. at the mind-door (3)
      interpreting meaning
        Bhavaṅga
        Bhavaṅga
        manodvārāvajjana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Javana
        Tadārammaṇa
        Tadārammaṇa
    ...
    ...
  Javana cittas [29]
    unwholesome (12)
    wholesome (8)
    beautiful functional (8)
    smile-producing (1)
  Visayappavatti
    6 Objects
      in 5-door
        in 5-door
      in Mind-door
    Form
Sound
Smell
Taste
Tangibility
Dhamma
      Vibhūta
Avibhūta
      Atimahanta
Mahanta
Paritta
Atiparitta
        in 5-door
= processes
A mental process is called citta-vīthi. A material process is rūpa-vīthi.
Compare with the Thai, วิธี (wi-tee) = "means; way; method".
References:
Described in Chapter IV of the Abhidhamma Sangaha (which is Abhidhammattha-sangaha [=compendium of Abhidhamma], attributed to Acariya Anuruddha), translated by Ven. Narada
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/abhidhamma.pdf
In U Narada's manual.Abhidhammattha Sangaha
p. 234 in
Chapter 5: Vīthi: Mental Process in Fundamental Abhidhamma Part 1 by Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa, pp. 83-
Nice visual explanations at VĪTHI: THE PROCESS OF MIND AND MATTER by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa (2005), ABHIDHAMMA FOR VIPASSANĀ
http://www.abhidhamma.com/tab_Vithi.pdf
2 hour presentation on YouTube by TBSO Mahasi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfxYDAS0-Mw
Refer also to Barendregt 'Abhidhamma Model of Consciousness' where he describes viithi as cognitive-emotional processing.
= cittas that deal with processes
Notes
Many terms are not found in the suttas, though there may be correspondences.
[citta-vīthi]
"citta-vīthi, as well as all terms for the various functions within the processes of consciousness, such as āvajjana-citta, sampaticchana, santīrana, votthapana, javana, tadārammana, bhavanga, cuti: none of these terms is found in the Sutta Canon. except javana, in Pts.M. Even in the Ahh. Canon (e.g. Patth) only javana and bhavanga are twice or thrice briefly mentioned. The stages, however, must have been more or less known. Cf. e.g Patth: ''Cakkhu-viññānam tam sampayuttakā ca dhammā (= cetasikā) mano-dhātuyā (performing the sampaticchana-function), tam sampayuttakānañ ca dhammānam (cetasikānani) anantara-paccayena paccayo. Mano-dhātu ... manoviññāna-dhātuya (performing the santīrana and votthapana function).... Purimā purimā kusalā dhammā (javanā) pacchimānam pacchimānam kusalānam dhammānam (javanacittānam) anantara-paccayena paccayo... avyākatānam dhammānam (tadārammana- and bhavanga-cittānam....)." cuti-citta: s. citta-vīthi."
[Abbreviations Mapping]
Pts.M.=Ps. Patisambhidā Magga;
Patth. = Ptn. ;
http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/dic4_append.htm
= attentions
= consciousness cittas
= receiving
= investigating
= dynamic
= cittas that are process-free
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms
[bhava + aṅga] = "ground or constituent part of becoming, condition for existence", commonly translated as "sub-conscious", but not "unconscious" (acittaka). The term is not listed in PED, probably because the term does not occur in the Nikayas.
A passive, very quiet mind. It functions as life-continuum, which is explained through the imagery of a stream. In the Vimuttimagga [see Refs topic], it is compared to a sleeping king in the simile of the mango. The process is nicely described and may invite investigation in neuroscience as to the neurological processes involved from sensory contact through to returning to bhavaṅga.
p.256 of the English edition (p.320 in the PDF document).
http://www.archive.org/stream/ArahantUpatossa-Vimuttimagga-PathOfFreedom.pdf/ArahantUpatissaEharaN.r.tr-PathOfFreedomvimuttimagga#page/n319/mode/2up/search/mango
The Vimuttimagga ["the way to deliverance] was written in the 1st Century CE by Ven. Upatissa. Wihlst the Pali version doesn't remain, it was preserved by a 6th century Chinese translation,which has since been translated into English. It is debatable whether it is in any way an exegesis of abhidhamma.
Venerable Nanamoli expresses the following
opinion:
"Abhidhamma, which
is the keystone of Bhadantacariya Buddhaghosa's exegesis, is not used at all
in the Vimuttimagga (Aggregates, Truths, etc., do not in themselves constitute
Abhidhamma in the sense of that Pitaka). There is, for instance, even in its
description of the Consciousness Aggregate, no reference to the DhamrnasanganVs
classification of 89 types, and nothing from the Patthaana; and though
the 'Cognitive Series' is stated once in its full form (in Ch. II) [Virtue Defined, p.6] no use is made
of it to explain conscious workings.
Citta-vīthi = 'mental process'
An exposition of citta as citta-kkhaṇa (thought or mental moment) sequences and their execution with respect to the senses:
cakkhu - eye - seeing;
sota - ear - hearing;
ghāna - nose - smelling;
jīvha - tongue - tasting;
kāya - body - [bodily] feeling /touch;
mano - mind - mental impressions
We may use the language of computers to describe this like an instruction set or program that we run. When a citta-vīthi runs, it depends on one of the 6 bases; it comes into contact to one of the 6 visaya (objects) through one of the 6 doors and hence the corresponding viññāṇa arises. For our purposes, it suffices to treat one of the 5 physical senses plus the mind, i.e. two cases.
A citta-kkhaṇa has three sub-moments - arising (uppāda), stop (ṭhiti), and falling (bhaṅga). The three sub-moments are a life-span of a mind.
E.g., when the mind encounters an object; they are enumerated respectively 17 + 12 + 12 +12 citta-kkhaṇa (moments).
Note that
References
1. Abhidhamma Papers pp. 46-
Used this to describe each of the 17 stages in viithi
2. Useful discussion at:
https://puredhamma.net/abhidhamma/javana-of-a-citta-the-root-of-mental-power/
3. B. Les Lancaster, On the stages of perception: Towards a synthesis of cognitive neuroscience and the Buddhist Abhidhamma tradition, Journal of Consciousness Studies 4(2), pp. 122-142, 1997
Graphical presentation note:
We show what happens for eye and visible object that is 'very great'.
In seeking to stack the processes (at the eye door, etc.) one above the other, have configured the timeline structure as follows:
a) for each process have defined a series of topic labels to indicate stage, each with a subtopic label indicating function;
b) inserted '...' ellipsis subtopics in the vertical .
= Cakkhu-dvāra vīthi
Starting point. The nature of this mind (citta) depends on the individual's past kamma.
= Bhavaṅga-calana
Before an object can impinge on any of the senses, it first "enters the stream of bhavanga causing it to vibrate slightly, in the same way that a sound might cause one to turn in one's sleep without waking up." [Abhidhamma Papers]
= Bhavaṅga-upaccheda
Cutting off the stream of bhavaṅga: at which point the stream is interrupted or cut off, which may be compared to being woken up from sleep. The object (here, visible object) is in no way known at this stage.
five-sense-door adverting, i.e. turning towards the object: opens the respective sense-door for the object, but without there yet being any mental consciousness of it.
eye-consciousness: sees the object
Analogously for
sotaviññāṇa, ghānaviññāṇa, jīvhaviññāṇa,
kāyaviññāṇa and manoviññāṇa.
receiving consciousness: receives the object.
"Here the object is passively received and may be distinguished as being agreeable or disagreeable, although as yet there is no reaction to the discernment. The feeling is neutral." [Abhidhamma Papers]
investigating or enquiring consciousness: investigates the object (“checking”)
determining consciousness: decides, determines the object (“selecting”)
dynamic consciousness: experiences and enjoys the object
javana is kamma-creating
These 7 Vīthi-cittas run with the present visible object that comes into manifestation. After that the Bhavaṅga citta runs again with the past object.
following consciousness: follows the javanas with the same object
(mostly translated as “registration”)
End point.
akusala
maha kusala
maha kiriya
Visaya = 'object';
pavatti = 'appearance or presentation';
form / sound / small / taste / tangibility / Dhamma
Atimahanta = very great / loud / strong / strong / rough ... smooth / great
Mahanta = great, etc.
Paritta = small, etc.
Atiparitta = very small, etc.