This book is an attempt to comprehend the Buddhist concept of mind (citta in Pali) when sectarianism was not exertive yet in the Pali literature. This book is based for its materials on the Tipitaka whose dating and stratification-especially the Suttapitaka which is most substantial of the Buddhist canonical literature and best able to serve a sense of purity - are examined in view that the earlier a particular text is, the more authentic it should be.
The mind in question is worked upon as a technical term and a concept. Its lexical meanings in general and applied ones in the Buddhist canonical context are surveyed. How the fundamental and condensed shades of citta figure in the Buddhist system as well as in the contemporary Brahmanic ones is sketched out. With the supplement of lexical elucidation, tabular illustrations and doctrinal relevance the work should virtually exhaust all the cases of conceivable citta in the Suttapitaka and the Abhidhammapitaka so long as its literary occurrence is concerned. The matters inherent of psycho-philosophical interest, however, will be elaborated on with further analysis and deeper ideation. This book should be found useful to students and the scholars alike. |
