In Buddhist psychology, the arising of citta (mind) in response to sensory stimuli is described through the concept of the "six sense bases" (ṣaḍāyatana) and the "six types of consciousness" (viññāṇa). These six sense bases correspond to the six sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind), and the six types of consciousness arise dependent on contact between these sense bases and their respective objects.
A brief explanation of how citta occurs in response to sensory stimuli through the six sense bases:
1. Eye (Cakkhu): The eye serves as the sense organ for visual perception. When the eye comes into contact with visible forms or objects, such as colors and shapes, eye consciousness (cakkhu viññāṇa) arises. This consciousness is responsible for perceiving visual stimuli.
2. Ear (Sota): The ear serves as the sense organ for auditory perception. When the ear comes into contact with sound vibrations, ear consciousness (sota viññāṇa) arises. This consciousness is responsible for perceiving auditory stimuli.
3. Nose (Ghāna): The nose serves as the sense organ for olfactory perception. When the nose comes into contact with odor molecules, nose consciousness (ghāna viññāṇa) arises. This consciousness is responsible for perceiving olfactory stimuli.
4. Tongue (Jivhā): The tongue serves as the sense organ for gustatory perception. When the tongue comes into contact with taste sensations, tongue consciousness (jivhā viññāṇa) arises. This consciousness is responsible for perceiving taste stimuli.
5. Body (Kāya): The body serves as the sense organ for tactile perception. When the body comes into contact with tactile sensations, such as heat, cold, pressure, or pain, body consciousness (kāya viññāṇa) arises. This consciousness is responsible for perceiving tactile stimuli.
6. Mind (Mano): The mind serves as the sense organ for mental perception. Unlike the other sense bases, which perceive external objects, the mind perceives mental objects, including thoughts, emotions, and mental images. When the mind comes into contact with mental objects, mind consciousness (mano viññāṇa) arises. This consciousness is responsible for perceiving mental stimuli.
The arising of citta through the six sense bases is described as a dynamic process of sensory experience and perception. According to Buddhist teachings, the interaction between the sense bases, sense objects, and consciousness gives rise to sensory experiences and mental phenomena, which are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and devoid of a permanent self (anatta). This understanding forms the basis for insight (vipassana) meditation and the cultivation of wisdom in Buddhism.
