CH07: Twenty Modes across Four Segments (Overview)

At-a-glance: Foundations • Diagnostic map (time × rounds × truths)

A. Definition & place in DO

• “Twenty modes” here means a teaching checklist that makes the one twelve-link chain easier to see, memorize, and diagnose in practice.

• It combines the four periods (Ch02) with the full dukkha suite of SN 12.1 and the three connections (Ch06).

• Breakdown (our classroom convention):

  • Past Cause (2): avijjā, saṅkhārā.

  • Present Effect (5): viññāṇa, nāma-rūpa, saḷāyatana, phassa, vedanā.

  • Present Cause (3): taṇhā, upādāna, (kamma)bhava.

  • Future Effect (7): jāti; jarāmaraṇa; plus the fivefold mass of suffering after birth: soka, parideva, dukkha, domanassa, upāyāsa (SN 12.1).

  • Connections (3): C1 saṅkhārā → viññāṇa; C2 vedanā → taṇhā; C3 (kamma)bhava → jāti.

• Total teaching checkpoints: 17 segmental items + 3 connections = 20 modes.

• SN anchors: forward/cessation formula SN 12.1; per-link enumerations SN 12.2.

B. Mechanism (how to use the 20 modes)

• Time placement: Each mode sits in one of the four periods so learners can answer “Where am I on the wheel?” quickly.

• Rounds overlay:

  • Kilesa = avijjā, taṇhā, upādāna.

  • Kamma = saṅkhārā, (kamma)bhava.

  • Vipāka = the rest (present/future effects, including the dukkha suite).

• Truths orientation:

  • Samudaya-sacca = Present Cause (taṇhā → upādāna → bhava).

  • Dukkha-sacca = Present/Future Effects (esp. jāti → jarāmaraṇa + fivefold dukkha).

• Diagnostics: In any scenario, tag the nearest mode (e.g., “This is vedanā (PE-5) trying to flip to taṇhā (PC-1) via C2.”) Then choose a pause appropriate to that mode.

Twenty Modes (M1–M20) — Checklist

Past Cause (PCa)

• M1 Avijjā (ignorance) — kilesa; hides the Four Truths (SN 12.2).

• M2 Saṅkhārā (formations) — kamma; fabrications of body/speech/mind.

Present Effect (PEf)

• M3 Viññāṇa (consciousness) — vipāka.

• M4 Nāma-rūpa (name-and-form) — vipāka.

• M5 Saḷāyatana (six bases) — vipāka.

• M6 Phassa (contact) — vipāka.

• M7 Vedanā (feeling; sixfold) — vipāka (SN 12.2).

Present Cause (PCa-now)

• M8 Taṇhā (craving; sixfold) — kilesa (SN 12.2).

• M9 Upādāna (clinging; four kinds) — kilesa (SN 12.2).

• M10 (Kamma)bhava (becoming) — kamma.

Future Effect (FEf)

• M11 Jāti (birth) — vipāka.

• M12 Jarāmaraṇa (aging-and-death) — vipāka.

• M13–M17 the fivefold mass of suffering after birth — vipāka:

  • M13 Soka (sorrow), M14 Parideva (lamentation),

  • M15 Dukkha (pain), M16 Domanassa (grief), M17 Upāyāsa (distress).

Hand-off Connections (bridges)

• M18 (C1) Saṅkhārā → Viññāṇa (kamma → vipāka, past→present).

• M19 (C2) Vedanā → Taṇhā (vipāka → kilesa, present pivot).

• M20 (C3) (Kamma)bhava → Jāti (kamma → vipāka, present→future).

C. Practice (micro-drills, 1–3 minutes)

1. 20-Bead Mala (2–3 min)
   Finger-count M1→M20 in Pāli once; repeat the three bridges twice. Aim for smooth recall without peeking.

2. Locate & Pause (90 sec)
   In a fresh irritation, identify the closest mode (often M7 vedanā). Say “vipāka felt,” then apply the C2 brake so M8 taṇhā doesn’t ignite.

3. Card Sort (pair/class, 3 min)
   Shuffle twenty small slips labeled M1–M20. Race to arrange into the four columns (Past Cause / Present Effect / Present Cause / Future Effect) with bridges on the side.

D. Cross-links

• Ch01–Ch06 (foundations you just studied).

• Ch15 Vedanā (M7) and Ch16 Taṇhā (M8) for the C2 pivot.

• Ch18 (Kamma)bhava (M10) and Ch19 Jāti (M11) for C3.

• Ch20 Jarāmaraṇa (M12) and the dukkha suite (M13–M17).

Sources

SN 12.1; SN 12.2.

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QR Footer (left → right)

• Audio QR-CH07-AUD1 — “Twenty Modes roll-call.” (Alt: “QR to audio: M1–M20 memorization”)

• Video QR-CH07-VID1 — Sorting modes on a four-column board. (Alt: “QR to video: mode sorting demo”)

• Slides QR-CH07-PPT1 — Printable M1–M20 checklist. (Alt: “QR to slides: twenty modes deck”)

• Prompt QR-CH07-PRM1 — 60-sec Locate & Pause script. (Alt: “QR to prompt: find your mode”)

Next: Ch08 — Practice Primer: Present-flow from Phassa → Vedanā → Taṇhā.