Somewhat abbreviated

Citta: (nt.) [Sk. citta, orig. pp. of cinteti, cit, cp. yutta yu¾jati, muttamu¾cati. On etym. from cit. see cinteti].

I. Meaning: the heart (psychologically), i. e. the centre & focus of man's emotional nature as well as that intellectual element which inheres in & accompanies its manifestations; i. e. thought. In this wise citta denotes both the agent & that which is enacted (see kamma II. introd.), for in Indian Psychology citta is the seat & organ of thought (cetas¤ cinteti; cp. Gr. frh/n, although on the whole it corresponds more to the Homeric qumo/s). As in the verb (cinteti) there are two stems closely allied and almost inseparable in meaning (see § III.), viz. cit & cet (citta & cetas); cp. ye should restrain, curb, subdue citta by ceto, M I.120, 242 (cp. attan¤ coday' att¤na¸ Dhp 379 f.); cetas¤ citta¸ samannesati S I.194 (cp. cetas¤ citta¸ samannesati S I.194). In their general use there is no distinction to be made between the two (see § III.).

The meaning of citta is best understood when explaining it by expressions familiar to us, as: with all my heart; heart and soul; I have no heart to do it; blessed are the pure in heart; singleness of heart (cp. ekagga); all of which emphasize the emotional & conative side or "thought" more than its mental & rational side (for which see manas & vi¾¾¤¼a). It may therefore be rendered by intention, impulse, design; mood, disposition, state of mind, reaction to impressions. It is only in later scholastic lgg. that we are justified in applying the term "thought" in its technical sense. It needs to be pointed out, as complementary to this view, that citta nearly always occurs in the singular (=heart), & out of 150 cases in the Nik¤yas only 3 times in the plural (=thoughts). The substantiality of citta (cetas) is also evident from its connection with kamma (heart as source of action), k¤ma & the senses in general. On the whole subject see Mrs. Rh. D. Buddh. Psych. Eth. introd. & Bud. Psy. ch. II.

II. Cases of citta (cetas), their relation & frequency (enumd for gram. purposes). - The paradigma is (numbers denoting %, not including cpds.): Nom. citta¸; Gen. (Dat.) cetaso (44) & cittassa (9); Instr. cetas¤ (42) & cittena (3); Loc. citte (2) & cittamhi (2). - Nom. citta¸ (see below). Gen. cittassa only (of older passages) in c* upakkileso S III.232; V.92; A I.207; c* damatho Dh 35 & c* vasena M I.214; III.156. Instr. cittena only in S I. viz. cittena n¨yati loko p. 39; upakkiliÂÂha* p. 179; asall¨nena c* p. 159. Loc. citte only as loc. abs. in sam¤hite citte (see below) & in citte vy¤panne k¤yakammam pi v. hoti A I.162; cittamhi only S I.129 & cittasmi¸ only S I.132. - Plural only in Nom. cittani in one phrase: ¤savehi citt¤ni (vi) mucci¸su "they purified their hearts from intoxications" Vin I.35; S III.132; IV.20; Sn p. 149; besides this in scholastic works=thoughts, e. g. Vbh 403 (satta cittani).

III. Citta & cetas in promiscuous application. There is no cogent evidence of a clear separation of their respective fields of meaning; a few cases indicate the rôle of cetas as seat of citta, whereas most of them show no distinction. There are cpds. having both citta* & ceto* in identical meanings (see e. g. citta-sam¤dhi & ceto*), others show a preference for either one or the other, as ceto is preferred in ceto-khila & ceto-vimutti (but: vimutta-citta), whereas citta is restricted to combn w. upakkilesa, etc. . . .

IV. Citta in it? relation to other terms referring to mental processes.

1. citta-hadya, the heart as incorporating man's personality: hadaya¸ phaleyya, cittavikkhepa¸ papu¼eyya (break his heart, upset his reason) S I.126; . . . S I.207, 214; Sn p. 32; . . .

2. c. as mental status, contrasted to (a) physical status: e. g. kilanta* weary in body & mind D I.20=III.32; ¤tura* S III.2-5; nikaÂÂha* A II.137; Âhita* steadfast in body & soul (cp. Âhitatta) S V.74; *passaddhi quiet of body & soul S V.66. . . .

3. c. as emotional habitus:

(a) active=intention, contrasted or compared with: (a) will, c. as one of the four sam¤dhis, viz. chanda, viriya, c., vima¸sa D III.77; S V.268; Vbh 288. - (b) action, c. as the source of kamma: . . . "when the intention is evil, the deed is evil as well" A I.262; . . . - Esp. in contrast to k¤ya & v¤c¤, . . . (in deed & speech & will . . .

(b) passive=mood, feelings, emotion, ranging with k¤ya & pa¾¾¤ under the (3) bh¤van¤ D III.219; S IV.111; A III.106; cp. M I.237; Nett 91; classed with k¤ya vedan¤ dhamm¤ under the (4) satipaÂÂh¤nas D II.95, 100, 299 sq.; S V.114, etc. . . .As part of the s¨lakkhandha (with s¨la ethics, pa¾¾¤ understanding) in adhis¨la, etc. Vin V.181; Ps II.243; Vbh 325; . . . - citta & pa¾¾¤ are frequently grouped together, e. g. S I.13 = 165; D III.269; Th I.125 sq. As feeling citta is contrasted with intellection in the group sa¾¾¤ c. diÂÂhi A II.52; Ps II.80; Vbh 376.

4. Definitions of citta (direct or implied): cittan ti vi¾¾¤¼a¸ bh¬mikavatthu-¤ramma¼a-kiriy¤di-cittat¤ya pan' eta¾ cittan ti vutta¸ DhA I.228; cittan ti mano m¤nasa¸ KhA 153; citta¸ manovi¾¾¤¼a¸ ti cittassa eta¸ vevacana¸ Nett 54. ya¸ citta¸ mano m¤nasa¸ hadaya¸ pa¼Àara¸, etc. Dhs 6=111 (same for def. of manindriya, under § 17; see Buddh. Psych.). As r¬p¢vacara citta at Vism 376.

V. Citta in its range of semantical applications: (1) heart, will, intention, etc. (see I.).

(a) heart as general status of sensory-emotional being; its relation to the senses (indriy¤ni). A steadfast & constrained heart is the sign of healthy emotional equilibrium, this presupposes the control over the senses; . . . a guarded heart turns to great profit A I.7; . . . "from the fetters of Mara those are released who control their heart" Dh 37 . . .

(b) Contact with k¤ma & r¤ga: a lustful, worldly, craving heart. - (a) k¤ma: . . .Sn 50; S IV.210; S I.188; Sn 435; . . . A IV.392; S I.92; . . . A II.211 . . . (my h. does not leap, sit or stand in cravings) D III.239; . . .(b) r¤ga: r¤go citta¸ anuddha¸seti (defilement harasses his heart) S I.185; II.231=271; A II.126; III.393; . . . A III.285; . . .S IV.73; . . .S IV.74; Sn 235; PvA 168. . . .

(c) A heart, composed, concentrated, settled, selfcontrolled, mastered, constrained. . . S I.98; A I.207; III.248; Sn 434; A IV.209, 213; Sn 316, 403, 690, S III.133; A III.245; S II.273; IV.263; A II.94, 157; D I.13=III.30, 108; S I.120, 129, 188; IV.78=351; A I.164; II.211; III.17, 280; IV.177; Vbh 227; Vism 376; S III.93; V.154; 301; D III.101; A V.195; S I.132; A I.165; . . .

(e) An evil heart; D I.20= III.32; A I.8; IV.92; It 12, 13; Pv A 33, 43; A I.262. Opp. a*: S IV.322; A II.220;D I.79; II.299; III.281; Vism 410 . . .

(f) "blessed are the pure in heart," a pure, clean, purified (cp. Ger. geläutert), emancipated, free, detached heart. (a) mutta-c*, vimutta-c*, etc. (cp. cetaso vimokkho, ceto-vimutti, muttena cetas¤) S III.132, etc.; vi* Sn p. 149. - vimutta: S I.28 (+subh¤vita), 29, 46=52; III.45 (+viratta), 90; IV.236 (r¤ga); Sn 23 (+sudanta); Nd2 587. - suvimutta: S I.126, 141, 233; IV.164; A III.245; V.29; Sn 975 (+satim¤). - (b) citta¸ parisodheti M I.347; A II.211; S IV.104. - (g) al¨na c. (unstained) S I.159; A V.149; Sn 68; 717; Nd2 97 (cp. cetaso l¨natta).

(g) good-will, a loving thought, kindliness, tenderheartedness, love ("love the Lord with all your heart"). - (a) metta-c* usually in phrase mettacitta¸ bh¤veti "to nourish the heart with loving thought," to produce good-will D I.167; S II.264; A I.10; V.81; Sn 507 (cp. mett¤-sahagatena cetas¤). - (b) bhavita-c* "keep thy heart with all diligence" (Prov. 4, 23) S I.188 (+susamahita); IV.294; V.369 (saddh¤-paribhavita); A I.6 (+bahulikata, etc.); Sn 134 (=S I.188); Dh 89=S V.29; PvA 139.

(h) a heart calmed, allayed, passionless (santa* upasanta*) D.III.49; S I.141; Sn 746.

(i) a wieldy heart, a heart ready & prepared for truth, an open & receptive mind: kalla*, mudu*, udagga*, pasanna* A IV.186; kalla* PvA 38 (sanctified); lahu* S I.201; udagga* Sn 689, 1028; S I.190 (+mudita); mudu* PvA 54.

(k) Various phrases. Abbhuta-cittaj¤t¤ "while wonder filled their hearts" S I.178; eva¸citto "in this state of mind" S II.199; Sn 985; cittam me Gotamo j¤n¤ti (G. knows my heart) S I.178; theyya-citto intending to steal Vin III.58; ¤raddha-citto of determined mind M I.414; S II.21, cp. 107; Sn p. 102; a¾¾¤citta¸ upaÂÂh¤peti S II.267; n¤n¤* of varying mind J I.295; nih¨nacitto low-minded PvA 107; nikaÂÂha* A II.137; ahata* A IV.460=V.18; supahata* S I.238 (cp. Miln 26); visankh¤ragata* Dh 154; sampanna* Sn 164; vibbhanta* S I.61=A I.70=II.30=III.391.

(2) thought: m¤ papaka¸ akusala¸ citta¸ cinteyy¤tha (do not think any evil thought) S V.418; na cittamattam pi (not even one thought) PvA 3; mama citta¸ bhaveyya (I should think) PvA 40. For further instances see Dhs & Vbh Indexes & cp. cpds. See also remarks above (under I.). Citta likened to a monkey Vism 425.

-¢dhipati the influence of thought (adj. *pateyya) Nett 16; Dhs 269, 359; DhsA 213. Commentators define c. here as javanacittupp¤da, our "thought" in its specialized sense, Compendium of Phil. 177, n. 2.
-¢nuparivattin consecutive to thought Dhs 671, 772, 1522;
-¢nupassan¤ the critique of heart, adj. *¢nupassin D II.299; III.221, 281; M I.59 & passim (cp. kay*);
-¤vila disturbance of mind Nd2 576 (*kara?a);
-ujjukat¤ rectitude of mind Dhs 51, 277, etc.;
-upp¤da the rise of a thought, i. e. intention, desire as theyya *¸ upp¤desi he had the intention to steal (a thought of theft) Vin III.56; M I.43; III.45; J II.374;
-ekaggat¤ "one-pointedness of mind," concentration Nett 15, 16; Vism 84, 137, 158; DhA III.425; ThA 75; cp. ekagga-citto A III.175;
-kali a witch of a heart, a witch-like heart Th 1, 356;
-kallat¤ readiness of heart, preparedness of mind VvA 330;
-kilesa stain of h. Dh 88 (DhA II.162=pa¾ca nivara?a);
-ke²is¤ pastime of the mind Th 1, 1010;
-kkhepa derangement of the mind, madness Vin V.189=193 (umm¤da+); A III.219 (umm¤da+); DhA III.70 (=umm¤da); PvA 39; Dh 138; cp. *vikkhepa;
-cetasika belonging to heart & thought, i. e. mental state, thought, mind D I.213; Dhs 1022 (-dhamma, Mrs. Rh. D.: emotional, perceptual & synthetic states as well as those of intellect applied to sense-impressions), 1282; Ps I.84; Miln 87; Vism 61, 84, 129, 337;
-dubbhaka a rogue of a heart, a rogue-like heart Th 1, 214;
-pakopana shaking or upsetting the mind It 84 (dosa);
-pamaddin crushing the h. Th 2, 357 (=ThA 243; v. l. pam¤thin & pam¤din);
-pariy¤ya the ways (i. e. behaviour) of the h. A V.160 (cp. ceto-paricca);
-passaddhi calm of h., serenity of mind (cp. kaya*) S V.66; Dhs 62;
-bh¤van¤ cultivation of the h. M III.149;
-mala stain of h. PvA 17;
-mudut¤ plasticity of mind (or thought) Dhs 62, 277, 325;
-rucita after the heart's liking J I.207;
-r¬pa¸ according to intention, as much as expected Vin I.222; II.78; III.161; IV.177, 232;
-lahut¤ buoyancy of thought Dhs 62, 323, 1283; Vism 465;
-vikkhepa (cp. *kkhepa) madness S I.126 (+umm¤da); Nett 27; Vism 34;
-vippayutta disconnected with thought Dhs 1192, 1515;
-visa¸saÂÂha detached fr. thought Dhs 1194, 1517;
-v¬pasama allayment of one's h. S I.46;
-sankilesa (adj.) with impure heart (opp. c.-vodana) S III.151;
-sa¾¾atti conviction Miln 256;
-sant¤pa "heart-burn," sorrow PvA 18 (=soka);
-sam¤dhi (cp. ceto-sam¤dhi) concentration of mind, collectedness of thought, self-possession S IV.350; V.269; Vbh 218;
-samodh¤na adjustment, calming of thoughts ThA 45;
-samp¨²ana (adj.) h. crushing (cp. *pamaddin & *pakopana) Nett 29 (domanassa).
-sahabh¬ arising together with thought Dhs 670, 769, 1520.
-hetuka (adj.) caused by thought Dhs 667, 767.

PED on Line (no diacriticals): "citta"
PED on Line (unicode font required): "citta"