THE PATH
OF PURIFICATION
(VISUDDHIMAGGA)
BY
BHADANTACARIYA BUDDHAGHOSA
Translated from the Pali
by
BHIKKHU NANAMOLI
FIFTH EDITION
BUDDHIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
Kandy Sri Lanka
[(v) THE SIXFOLD BASE / SALAYATANA]
203. As to the clause 'With mentality-materiality as condition, the sixfold
base':
Three aggregates are 'mind'; the basis,
Primaries, and the rest are 'matter':
And while all that conditions this
A part can represent the rest.
204. In the case of the mentality-materiality that is here a condition for
the sixfold base, mentality is the three aggregates beginning with feeling,
while materiality should be understood as that included in one's own
continuity stated thus 'primaries and the rest are "matter"', that is to
say, the four primaries, six physical bases, and life faculty, [since they
are conditioning factors] invariably. But this mentality and this material-
ity and this mentality-materiality, each one representing the rest as 'men-
tality-materiality', should be understood as a condition for the sixfold
base consisting of the sixth base and the sixfold base each one represent-
ing the rest as the 'sixfold base'. Why? Because in the immaterial be-
coming there is only mentality as a condition, and that is a condition
only for the sixth base, [namely, the mind base,] not for any other. For it
is said in the Vibhanga, 'With mentality as condition, the sixth base'
(Vbh. 179).
205. Here it may be asked: 'But how is it to be known that mentality-
materiality is a condition for the sixfold base?'. Because the latter exists
when mentality-materiality exists. For a given base exists when a given
kind of mentality and materiality exists, not otherwise. But the way in
which the one comes to exist when the other does will be explained
below in the section dealing with how it is a condition. [563] Therefore:
A wise man should contrive to tell
Which one conditions which, and how,
At rebirth and in life as well;
[The explanation follows now.]
206. Herein what follows illustrates the meaning.
[(1) Mentality as Condition]
In immaterial rebirth
And life the mind alone will come
In seven ways and six to be
Condition at the minimum.
207. How? In rebirth-linking, firstly, mentality is a condition in seven
ways at the minimum, as conascence, mutuality, support, association,
kamma-result, presence, and non-disappearance conditions, for the sixth
base. Some mentality, however, is a condition, as root-cause condition
[that is, greed, etc.,] and some as nutriment condition [that is, contact
and mental volition]. So it is also a condition in other ways. It is by the
[two latter] that the maximum and minimum should be understood. In
the course of an existence, too, resultant mentality is a condition as
already stated. But the other [non-resultant] kind is a condition in six
ways at minimum, as the aforesaid conditions except for kamma-result
condition. Some, however, is a condition, as root-cause condition, and
some as nutriment condition. So it is also a condition in other ways. It is
by these that the maximum and minimum should be understood.
208. In five-constituent becoming
At rebirth, mind in the same ways
Acts as condition for the sixth,
And for the others in six ways.
209. Besides the immaterial states, also in the five-constituent becoming
that resultant mentality, in association with the heart-basis, is a condition
in seven ways at the minimum for the sixth, the mind base, in the same
way as was said with respect to the immaterial states. But in association
with the four primary elements, it is a condition in six ways, as conas-
cence, support, kamma-result, dissociation, presence, and non-disappear-
ance conditions, for the other five beginning with the eye base. Some,
however, is a condition as root-cause condition, and some as nutriment
condition. It is by these that the maximum and minimum should be
understood.
210. Result is for result condition
During a life in the same ways;
While non-result the non-resultant
Sixth conditions in six ways.
211. For, as in rebirth-linking, so also in the course of an existence in the
five-constituent becoming, resultant mentality is a condition in the seven
ways at minimum for the resultant sixth base. But non-resultant mental-
ity is a condition in six ways at minimum for the non-resultant sixth
base, leaving out kamma-result condition. The maximum and minimum
should be understood in the way already stated.
212. And during life, result conditions
The other five in fourfold way;
The non-resultant kind can be
Explained in the aforesaid way. [564]
213. Again, in the course of an existence, the other resultant mentality,
which has as its physical basis the eye sensitivity, etc., is a condition in
four ways, as postnascence, dissociation, presence, and non-disappear-
ance conditions, for the rest of the five beginning with the eye base. And
as the resultant, so also the non-resultant is explained; therefore [the
mentality] classed as profitable, etc., should be understood as their con-
dition in four ways.
This, firstly, is how it should be understood what bases mentality
alone is a condition for in rebirth-linking and in the course of an exis-
tence, and how it is a condition.
214. [(2) Materialty as Condition]
Not even for a single base
In immaterial becoming
Is matter a condition here.
But in five-aggregate becoming
Basis as matter is condition
At rebirth in a sixfold way
For the sixth base; the primaries
Are for the five in fourfold way.
215. As to matter, the materiality of the physical [heart-] basis is a condi-
tion in rebirth-linking in six ways, as conascence, mutuality, support,
dissociation, presence, and non-disappearance conditions, for the sixth,
the mind base. But the four primaries are in general, that is to say, in
rebirth-linking and in the course of an existence, conditions in four ways,
as conascence, support, presence, and non-disappearance conditions, for
any of the five bases beginning with the eye, whenever they arise.
216. Life and in lifetime food as well,
Conditions five in threefold way;
These five, the sixth in sixfold way;
Basis, the sixth in fivefold way.
217. But in rebirth-linking and in the course of an existence the material
life [faculty] is a condition in three ways, as presence, non-disappear-
ance, and faculty conditions, for these five beginning with the eye.
Nutriment too is a condition in three ways, as presence, non-disappear-
ance, and nutriment conditions, and that is so in the course of an exis-
tence, not in rebirth-linking, and applies when the bodies of beings
subsisting on nutriment are suffused with the nutriment. In the course of
an existence, not in rebirth-linking, those five bases beginning with the
eye are conditions in six ways, as support, prenascence, faculty, disso-
ciation, presence and non-disappearance conditions, for [that part of] the
sixth, the mind base, comprising eye-, ear-, nose-, tongue-, and body-
consciousness. But in the course of an existence, not at rebirth-linking,
the materiality of the [heart-] basis is a condition in five ways, as sup-
port, prenascence, dissociation, presence, and non-disappearance condi-
tions, for the remaining mind base apart from the five consciousnesses.
This is how it should be understood what bases materiality alone is a
condition for in rebirth-linking and in the course of an existence, and
how it is a condition. [565]
[(3) Mentality-Materiality as Condition]
218. Which mind-cum-matter combination
Is a condition for which kind
And how it is so in each case,
A wise man should now seek to find.
219. For example, firstly, in rebirth-linking in the five-constituent be-
coming, the mentality-materiality, in other words, the trio of aggregates
with the materiality of the [heart-] basis, is a condition, as conascence,
mutuality, support, kamma-result, association, dissociation, presence, and
non-disappearance conditions, etc., for the sixth, the mind base. This is
merely the heading; but since it can all be construed in the way already
stated, the detail is not given here.
This is the detailed explanation of the clause * With mentality-materi-
ality as condition, the sixfold base'.
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