Development of “Pure Mind” (pabhassara citta) in Buddhism By Phramaha Somboon Vuddhikaro Dean & Permanent Lecturer Graduate School, MCU

How to study the subject: “Selected Topics in Development of Buddhism”  Study Buddhism in terms of historical way/ dimension.  Select an topic in Buddhism that you are interested to study in deep.  Collect data on the topic from one period to later periods (maybe from Early Buddhism to later Buddhism).  Reflect or analyze the data to find out its development.

Question on the Nature of Mind  The nature of mind: Pure or Impure?  The nature of water? Pure or Impure?  The nature of diamond: shining or not- shining?  If these things are not naturally pure, how can we remove/eradicate the impurity from them?

Definitions of Pure Mind  “Pure Mind” comes from Pali word: pabhassara citta (or Sanskrit word: prabhāsvara citta)  Citta = mind, consciousness  Pabhassara = pure/brightly shining/radiant/luminous  Pabhassara Citta = pure mind/brightly shining mind/radiant mind/or luminous mind.

The Buddha’s Discourse on the Nature of Mind  “Bhikshus, this mind is radiant, but it is defiled by adventitious defilements. The uninstructed [ignorant] ordinary person does not understand things as they really are. Therefore there is no mental development for the uninstructed ordinary person, I say!”  “Bhikshus, this mind is radiant, and it is freed from adventitious defilements. The instructed [wise] noble disciple understands things as they really are. Therefore there is mental development for the instructed noble disciple, I say!” Pabhassara Sutta

Pure Mind In Theravada Buddhism  Theravada Buddhism identifies the “pure mind" with the bhavanga citta.  Theravada Buddhism defines the “pure mind” as pakatimano (natural mind) and as pakatiparisuddha (mind pure by nature)  Theravada Buddhism compares the “mind mind” with clear or pure water.  Theravada Buddhism compares the “defiled mind” with colorful water.

Pure Mind in Theravada Buddhism (By Buddhaghosa)  Buddhaghosa refers to this radiant mind as “the naturally pure (pakati parisuddha) bhavanga citta”: “The natural mind (pakati nano) is the bhavanga citta, which is undefiled. Just as clear water is tainted by (such colours as) blue and so on, flowing into it and becomes known as blue water, and so on, but not so the earlier clear water (before it was tainted by the colour) nor new (fresh) water. In the same way, mind too becomes tainted by adventitious defilements, such as greed and so on, but not the earlier bhavanga citta nor a new citta (navacitta). Hence, the Blessed One said, “Bhikshus, this mind is radiant, but it is defiled by adventitious defilements.”

Pure Mind by Thanissaro Bhikkhu  “The luminous mind is the mind that the meditator is trying to develop.  To perceive its luminosity means understanding that defilements such as greed, aversion, or delusion are not intrinsic to its nature, are not a necessary part of awareness.  Without this understanding, it would be impossible to practice”.

Its Nature: Purity Its impurity: Incoming Defilements Its impurity: Incoming Defilements Mind

Pure Mind Pure Water Pure Mind Pure Water Colors Incoming Defilements Incoming Defilements

Conclusion  In early Buddhism, the “radiant mind” (pabhassara citta) refers neither to an absolutely pure state of mind nor to spiritual liberation, but is the mind that is radiant on account of not being disturbed or influenced by defilements.

Pure Mind in Mahayana Buddhism  Mahayana Buddhism defines the “pure mind” as the “naturally pure mind” (prakriti-prabhasvara).  It also identifies the “pure mind” with: -Tathāgatagarbha (Tathagata-Embryo) -Buddha-dhatu (Buddha-nature)

Tathagatagarbha/Buddha-dhatu  The term "'tathagatagarbha'" is generally taken as to mean that the "garbha“ (embryo/matrix) of a 'Tathagata' exists in all sentient beings without exception, and though temporarily contaminated by adventitious defilement, it is the cause which eventually leads sentient beings to enlightenment.  The notion of the 'tathagatagarbha' can be traced to pabhassara citta found in the Pali Tipitaka

Pure Mind in Lankavatara Sutra  The Lankavatara-sutra qualifies tathagatagarbha by the Sanskrit word prabhasvara (luminous).  It says that the tathatagarbha is prakrtiprabhasvara (luminous by nature) and prakrtiparisuddha (pure by nature), but it appears impure 'because it is defiled by adventitious defilements'.  In the Lankavatara-sutra the term tathagatagarbha is used as a synonym for alayavijnana.

Pure Mind in Lankavatara Sutra  The Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra describes the tathāgatagarbha as "by nature brightly shining and pure," and "originally pure," though "enveloped in the garments of the skandhas, dhātus and ayatanas and soiled with the dirt of attachment, hatred, delusion and false imagining."  It is said to be "naturally pure," but it appears impure as it is stained by adventitious defilements.  Thus the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra identifies the luminous mind with the tathāgatagarbha.

Pure Mind in Ratnagotravibhaga “The impurities that taint the mind and entail the state of unenlightenment (samsara) are completely adventitious... On the other hand from the point of view of the mind's pure radiant intrinsic nature, because it is like this it is possessed of all the many qualities of a Buddha's mind. These do not need actually to be brought about but merely need to be allowed to shine forth. Because they are intrinsic to the very nature of consciousness itself they, and the very state of Buddhahood, will never cease.”

Pure Mind in Zen Buddhism  Zen Buddhism compares the pure mind with the “clear mirror” and the defiled mind with the “mirror covered with dust”  It also compares the pure mind with the “shining diamond” and the defiled mind with the “diamond covered in mud”