Citta is the luminous, knowing aspect of consciousness that serves as the foundation for all mental states in Abhidharma psychology.
In Patanjali's framework and Abhidharma psychology, citta represents the essential nature of mind—luminous, aware, and fundamentally pure. Rather than viewing mind as a unified entity, Abhidharma breaks consciousness into discrete moments of awareness, each arising and passing in rapid succession. Citta is not a permanent self but a stream of conscious moments, each capable of knowing its object. Understanding citta's true nature—impermanent, impersonal, and luminous—is crucial for psychological transformation. Patanjali teaches that mastering the mind begins with recognizing this nature. Through meditation and systematic analysis, practitioners learn to observe how citta responds to experience without reactivity, creating the conditions for liberation from suffering and mental confusion.
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