Citta refers to consciousness itself as the fundamental phenomenon in Abhidharma, distinguished from mere thinking and treated as the primary subject of psychological transformation.
In Abhidharma psychology, citta (consciousness) is not a unified entity but a stream of momentary cognitive events arising and passing in dependence on conditions. Patanjali's framework of yogic mastery resonates deeply here: both traditions recognize that direct observation of mental phenomena, rather than conceptual understanding alone, catalyzes transformation. Abhidharma maps citta's arising through sense contact, mental factors, and karmic conditioning, showing how ignorance perpetuates suffering. By stabilizing attention through yogic practices like pratyahara and dharana, practitioners develop the precision needed to recognize citta's impermanent, selfless nature. This direct perception dissolves the illusion of a permanent observer, dismantling the ego-structures that bind consciousness to compulsive reactivity. Understanding citta as primary unlocks psychological liberation.
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