Prepared by
John D. Hughes, Dip.App.Chem., T.T.T.C., GDAIE,
Anita Hughes, RN Div.1,
Evelin Halls, Dip.For.Lang.Corres.,
Pennie White, B.A., Dip.Ed.
Abhidhamma Class No. 15, 1 October 2002
Our LAN 2 I:/Abhi015.rtf
akusala cetasika
(Immoral Mental Concomitants)
In Abhidhamma Class No. 14 on 24 September 2002 we gave an overview of the 52 cetasika and identified the three classes of cetasika: annasamana, akusala and sobhana. We then explored the first of these classes the annasamana in more detail.
In this paper we look at the second class of cetasika, the akusala cetasika. There are fourteen akusala cetasika which are ethically immoral. They may be divided into four sub-groups as follows:
moha – catukka = akusala – sadharana
(four cetasika headed by moha)
(1)moha = avijja = delusion, ignorance, dullness
(2)ahirika = lack of moral shame, impudence
(3)anottappa = lack of moral dread, recklessness
(4)uddhacca = unrest, restlessness, distraction
lobha-tri = papanca-dhamma
(three cetasika headed by lobha)
(5) lobha = raga = tanha = greed, attachment, sensuous desire
(6) miccha ditthi = wrong view, evil opinion
(7) mana = conceit, pride
dosa – catukka = hateful ones
(four cetasika headed by dosa)
(8) dosa = patigha = hatred, anger, aversion
(9) issa = envy, jealousy
(10)macchariya = avarice, stinginess, selfishness
(11)kukkucca = worry, scruples, remorse
end – tri = dull and wavering ones
(last three immoral cetasika)
(12)thina = sloth
(13)middha = torpor
(14)vicikiccha = sceptical doubt, perplexity
English Meaning of the Pali Words
Reference: Brown, Lesley (Ed.), 1993, “The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary”, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
(1)moha = avijja = delusion, ignorance, dullness
delusion: a false impression or opinion, especially as a symptom of mental illness
ignorance: the fact or condition of being ignorant.; lack of knowledge (general or particular)
dullness: the quality or state of being dull
dull: make sluggish or inert; make stupid or unresponsive; make blunt; make listless, depressed or gloomy; grow dim or tarnished
(2)ahirika = lack of moral shame, impudence
moral: of or pertaining to human character or behaviour considered as good or bad; of or pertaining to the distinction between right and wrong, or good and evil, in relation to the actions, volitions, or character of responsible beings; ethical
shame: the feeling of humiliation or distress arising from the consciousness of something dishonourable or ridiculous in one’s own or another’s behaviour or circumstances, or from a situation offensive to one’s own or another’s sense of propriety or decency. Disgrace, loss of esteem or reputation, an instance of this.
impudence: shamelessness; immodesty, indelicacy; shameless effrontery; insolent disrespect; insolence, presumption; freedom from indifference; cool confidence
(3)anottappa = lack of moral dread, recklessness
dread: fear greatly, regard with awe; fear, be afraid
recklessness: neglect or disregard of something
(4)uddhacca = unrest, restlessness, distraction
unrest: disturb, trouble
restless: unable to rest; deprived of rest; finding no rest; uneasy in mind or spirit; fidgety; averse to being quiet or settled; constantly in motion; continually operating, never ceasing or pausing
distraction: the action of drawing or forcing apart; forcible disruption; severance; division; separation; removal; dispersal
(5)lobha = raga = tanha = greed, attachment, sensuous desire
greed: intense or inordinate longing, especially for wealth or food; avarice, covetous desire
attachment: the action of fastening, joining, affixing or attributing; something attached, or intended to be attached; an adjunct
sensuous: of or pertaining to the senses or sensation; derived from or affecting the senses, based on or relating to material objects or beings.
(6)miccha ditthi = wrong view, evil opinion
evil: morally depraved, bad, wicked; causing pain or trouble; unpleasant, offensive, disagreeable; unwholesome, dissatisfactory
opinion: a view held about a particular subject or point; a judgement formed; a belief
(7)mana = conceit, pride
conceit: overestimation of oneself or one’s personal qualities; vanity; that which is conceived in the mind, a conception, a notion, an idea; the faculty of mental conception; apprehension, understanding; personal opinion, judgement, estimation
pride: the quality of having a high, especially an excessively high opinion of one’s own worth or importance; inordinate self-esteem; arrogant or overbearing conduct, haughtiness
(8)dosa = patigha = hatred, anger, aversion
hatred: a feeling or hostility or strong aversion towards a person or thing; active and violent dislike
anger: trouble, affliction, vexation, sorrow; extreme or passionate displeasure, wrath; physical pain, infliction
aversion: the action of turning away oneself, one’s eyes etc; mental attitude or opposition or repugnance; a habitual dislike; antipathy, unwillingness
(9)issa = envy, jealousy
envy: look maliciously upon, grudge; hostility; malice; enmity; a feeling of resentful or discontented longing aroused by another person’s better fortune, situation, etc.
jealousy: the consuming fear, suspicion, or belief that one is being or might be displaced in someone’s affections; distrust of the fidelity of a spouse or lover; resentment or envy of another person or of his or her possible or actual success, advantage, or superiority; rivalry
(10)macchariya = avarice, stinginess, selfishness
avarice: greed for gain, cupidity; eager desire to get or keep something for oneself
stingy: of a person, action, etc.: niggardly, parsimonious, mean; of a food, a portion, supply etc.; given sparingly or grudgingly; scanty, meagre
selfish: concerned chiefly with one’s own personal advantage or welfare to the exclusion of regard for others, deficient in consideration for others; actuated by or appealing to self-interest
(11)kukkucca = worry, scruples, remorse
worry: a state or feeling of mental unease or anxiety regarding or arising from one’s cares or responsibilities, uncertainty about the future, fear of failure etc., anxious concern, anxiety
scruple: a thought or circumstance that causes the mind unease or disquiet; a feeling or doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action; a fine point of conscience;
remorse: deep regret and repentance for a wrong committed; compunction; regretful remembrance of a thing; pity
Kukkucca could also be translated as: “flurry-and-worry”.
(12)thina = sloth
sloth: inactivity, reluctance to exert oneself; sluggishness, laziness; slowness, tardiness
(13)middha = torpor
torpor: be sluggish; torpid condition or quality; apathy, listlessness, dullness; indifference
(14)vicikiccha = sceptical doubt, perplexity
scepticism: the doctrine of the sceptics, Pyrrhonism; the opinion that real knowledge of any kind is unattainable; a sceptical attitude in relation to a particular branch of knowledge; doubt as to the truth of some assertion or apparent fact; mistrustfulness, doubting disposition
doubt: uncertainty as to the truth or reality of something or as to the wisdom of a course of action; occasion or room for uncertainty; an inclination to disbelieve or hesitate; a reason to disbelieve or hesitate, a reservation
perplexity: inability to deal with or understand a thing owing to its intricate nature; confusion, bewilderment
References
Dr. Mehm Tin Mon, “The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma”, publisher Mehm Tay Zar Mon, Yangon, 1995, Ch. 2, pp. 76-83.
Brown, Lesley (Ed.), 1993, “The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary”, Clarendon Press, Oxford.