16 Ways to Contemplate Citta in Buddhism
The text describes the 16 ways to contemplate citta in Buddhism. Citta is the mind or consciousness, and the 16 ways are a gradual practice that leads to the cessation of the mind and final renunciation of it. The 16 ways are:
- Knowing
- Contemplating
- Perceiving
- Clearly seeing
- Reflecting
- Deciding mentally
- Resolving with faith
- Exerting energy
- Establishing mindfulness
- Concentrating the mind
- Knowing clearly through wisdom
- Knowing thoroughly through the highest knowledge (abhi¤¤àya abhijànato)
- Fully understanding
- Abandoning what should be abandoned
- Developing what should be developed
- Finally realizing what should be realized
The purpose of contemplating citta in Buddhism is to gradually cease the mind and finally renounce it. This is done by experiencing the mind in 16 different ways, which leads to a deeper understanding of the mind and its nature.