nated by fundamental ignorance (avijjã) since time immemorial. This
fundamental ignorance has created within the citta a center or focal
point of the knower. The existence of that false center engenders an
individual perspective which is the nucleus of self-identity. This “self”
forms perceptions of duality (the knower and the known) and from
there awareness flows out to produce the world of the 5 khandhas and
of all sensory experience, which in turn reinforce the knower’s sense of
individuality. It all begins with the currents of the citta, which flow out
to create the entire sensory world, the world of conditioned phenomena.
Because of this, it is said that all physical and mental phenomena are
relative, conventional realities (sammuti). They exist only relative to the
knower, the one who perceives them. As such they are merely conven-
tions that the citta has brought into being and given a subjective identity
to in order to experience its own manifestations. In turn, these man-
ifestations become incorporated into the citta’s sense of its own iden-
tity. Thus the known becomes indistinguishable from the knower, and
duality comes full circle, trapping the citta in a web of self-delusion. The
citta is reduced to depending on its manifestations to assess the nature
of its own existence.
When fundamental ignorance has been destroyed, the focal point
of the knower disintegrates, which causes the “self” perspective to dis-
appear from the citta altogether. With the disappearance of self-iden-
tity, all manifestations of the citta, all relative, conventional realities, are
divested of their power to deceive and no longer appear within the citta.
Although they do continue to play a role, in the form of the 5 khand-
has, as long as the Arahant remains alive, they are no longer incorpo-
rated into the citta’s identity and have no part in conditioning its out-
look. This is called vimutti – absolute freedom from all conditions. No
conditions whatsoever exist for this freedom.
- Nong Aw. Literally. “a pool of understanding”. (see Note #5 of this
section) - A visuddhi-deva is a being made divine by the purity of his attain-
ment, that is, an Arahant.