Significance of Mental Detachment: A Study of Cittaviveka in Buddhism

Abstract

The Buddhist doctrine of cittaviveka is one of three forms of viveka – bodily solitude (kāyaviveka), mental solitude (cittaviveka) and seclusion from the substrates of existence or attainment of nibbāna (upadhiviveka) – and is found in Theravada texts, in particular, the notion of mental detachment (cittaviveka) is explicitly described in the Mahā-niddesa. Among these, cittaviveka is an essential attribute of Buddhist spiritual path represented a stage of inner detachment, in which the mind becomes secluded from obstacles and defilements. Despite previous scholars offered the Buddhist concept of cittaviveka from Buddhist perspective, the Mahā-niddesa and the Paṭisambhidāmagga viewpoints have received less attention on it. It still remains challenging to clarify about specific levels of mental detachment. For instance, the Atthasālinī (the commentary of Dhammasaṅgaṇi) and the Visuddhimagga cannot provide the satisfied answer to what levels of mental detachment are achieved through it without help of the Mahā-niddesa and the Paṭisambhidāmagga. The research problem should be based on the following questions: What does cittaviveka truly signify in early Buddhist teachings, and what levels of mental detachment are achieved through it? Therefore, the aim of this paper is to give the reader a clearer answer and more critical analysis of cittaviveka, looking at different levels of mental detachment with special reference to the Mahā-niddesa and the Paṭisambhidāmagga. The analysis revealed three main spiritual transformative processes: solitude through displacement (tadaṅgaviveka), the temporary suppression of obstacles, the state of absorptions or jhānas (vikkhambhanaviveka) and permanent uprooting of defilements (samucchedaviveka). The method adopted is a textual analysis of Theravāda Pāli sources, including commentarial literatures and related works done by scholars were also incorporated to grasp the actual meaning of the selected term as clearly as possible.