Process of Consciousness and Matter - Abhidhamma.com

INTRODUCTION
respective objects 4 . I then explain how the sense object consciousness
arises at each sense door. With regard to the sixth sense door, the
mind, I explain that the mind door process is a purely mental process:
for example a present thought may cause a memory to arise. I also
explain the subsequent mind door process, which follows the mind
door 5 . With regard to this mind door process I also describe the
meditation processes and the attainment of the different kinds of
absorption. I describe the different types of process such as the
supernormal process, the reviewing process, the dying process, the
fruition process, the pre-Nibbānic process and the pari-Nibbānic
process 6 . These processes are only mentioned very briefly in the
Manual. The dying process is closely related to the rebirth process 7 .
The Abhidhamma treats them separately and explains how they are
linked - after death comes rebirth. It is my hope that many people,
particularly in the West, will be interested in this description of the
rebirth process.
The final section of the book is concerned with the process of
matter 8 . Material phenomena or qualities originate from kamma,
consciousness, temperature and nutrition 9 . I explain how these
material qualities come together at the time of conception, and
continue through life. I also explain what happens at the death
moment and afterwards. At the moment of conception the formation
of these qualities occurs within 17 mind moments and then
immediately new qualities begin to arise and then pass away and so
ceaselessly on and on throughout life, until the death moment.
Dr Rewata Dhamma
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara
UK
25/02/2004
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