Dhamma and Science > Origin of Life > Views on Life > Paṭicca Samuppāda – Not ‘Self’ or ‘No-Self’ > Vacī Saṅkhāra – Saṅkappa (Conscious Thoughts) and Vācā (Speech)

November 30, 2019; December 1, 2019 (new #14 also added); July 17, 2021; September 10, 2022 (esp. #11)

Introduction

1. Vacī Saṅkhāra is looking into a ārammaṇa deeper (vitakka), and, in detail (vicāra). We introduced that in a previous post but will discuss it in more detail here.

▪Vācā is, of course, speech. Saṅkappa has been translated as “thoughts or intention.” Here, we will see that saṅkappa means “thoughts with intention.” We will also discuss how vacī saṅkhāra relates to both vācā and saṅkappa.

▪The first four steps in the Noble Eightfold Path are Sammā Diṭṭhi, Sammā Saṅkappa, Sammā Vācā, and Sammā Kammanta. One’s thoughts depend on one’s views, and one’s speech and actions depend on how one thinks. This is why Sammā Diṭṭhi comes first and why “having correct views” about the nature of this world is at the forefront.

2. There are various types of saṅkhāra. In the previous post, we discussed categorizing saṅkhāra in two different ways.

▪Three types depending on whether they lead to bodily actions, speech, or thoughts: kāyasaṅkhāra, vacīsaṅkhāra, and cittasaṅkhāra.

▪There are three more types according to future vipāka: Puññābhisaṅkhāra, apuññābhisaṅkhāra, āneñjābhisaṅkhāra. These are discussed at #14 below.

▪Let us first review the first category briefly and then focus on vacī saṅkhāra. I explained kāya and citta (or mano) saṅkhāra in recent posts.

Three Types of Saṅkhāra Responsible for Actions, Speech, and Thoughts

3. There are succinct statements in the WebLink: suttacentral: Cūḷavedalla Sutta (MN 44) on the types of saṅkhāra generated in mind:

“Tayome, āvuso visākha, saṅkhārā—kāyasaṅkhāro, vacīsaṅkhāro, cittasaṅkhāro”ti.

– There are three types of saṅkhāra – kāya saṅkhāra, vacī saṅkhāra, citta saṅkhāra.

“Katamo panāyye, kāyasaṅkhāro, katamo vacīsaṅkhāro, katamo cittasaṅkhāro”ti?

– What are kāya saṅkhāra, What are vacī saṅkhāra, What are citta saṅkhāra (or mano saṅkhāra)?

“Assāsapassāsā kho, āvuso visākha, kāyasaṅkhāro, vitakkavicārā vacīsaṅkhāro, saññā ca vedanā ca cittasaṅkhāro”ti.

– Assāsa passāsā are kāya saṅkhāra, vitakka vicāra are vacī saṅkhāra, saññā and vedanā constitute citta saṅkhāra.

“Kasmā panāyye, assāsapassāsā kāyasaṅkhāro, kasmā vitakkavicārā vacīsaṅkhāro, kasmā saññā ca vedanā ca cittasaṅkhāro”ti?

– Why are the three types of saṅkhāra categorized in that way?

“Assāsapassāsā kho, āvuso visākha, kāyikā ete dhammā kāyappaṭibaddhā, tasmā assāsapassāsā kāyasaṅkhāro. Pubbe kho, āvuso visākha, vitakketvā vicāretvā pacchā vācaṁ bhindati, tasmā vitakkavicārā vacīsaṅkhāro. Saññā ca vedanā ca cetasikā ete dhammā cittappaṭibaddhā, tasmā saññā ca vedanā ca cittasaṅkhāro”ti.

– Assāsa passāsā (breathing in and out) is associated with the body (movements). Thus, assāsa passāsa is kāya saṅkhāra.

– Vitakka/vicāra arise before speech “breaks out.” Therefore, vitakka/vicāra are vacī saṅkhāra.

– Saññā and vedanā are associated with any citta. Thus, saññā/vedanā are citta saṅkhāra.

No Kammic Consequences for Citta (Mano) Saṅkhāra

4. Citta (mano) saṅkhāra does not have strong kammic consequences that can result in rebirth. As mentioned above in #3, they encompass vedanā and saññā, which are in ALL citta. Therefore, even vipāka cittā have citta (mano) saṅkhāra.

▪As we discussed in the post, “Amazingly Fast Time Evolution of a Thought (Citta),” any thought goes through nine stages within a billionth of a second. The early stages are citta and mano. Those two stages already have vedanā and saññā.

▪Bad (asobhana) or good (sobhana) mental factors (cetasika) are incorporated into thought only in the latter stages of that nine-step process. Furthermore, such cetasika involve in those latter stages ONLY IF there is an attachment (taṇhā) and one is consciously thinking about a ārammaṇa.

▪The six steps described in the Chachakka Sutta happen within a split second. There is no time to “think” and thus there cannot be any vacī or kāya saṅkhāra. See #6 below.

Vacī or kāya saṅkhāra Can Lead to Abhisaṅkhāra

5. Vacī or kāya saṅkhāra MAY ALSO lead to actions that do not have kammic consequences. Such “harmless” vacī or kāya saṅkhāra cannot become abhisaṅkhāra that can bring future vipāka, including rebirths.

▪Breathing or walking to the kitchen to get a glass of water involves such “harmless” kāya saṅkhāra. Thinking about what needs to be done at work tomorrow or talking to the spouse about dinner plans involves such vacī saṅkhāra.

▪Other kāya and vacī saṅkhāra lead to actions and speech that have kammic consequences. Those lead to abhisaṅkhāra. Such abhisaṅkhāra “prepare or give rise to” saṅkhata. Thus, saṅkhata are entities that are “prepared” via saṅkhāra or “arise” due to saṅkhāra. Paṭicca Samuppāda describes that process and we will get to it.

No Vacī or Kāya Saṅkhāra Involved in Initial Sensory Experience

6. Some thoughts that have gone through the nine stages do not involve conscious thinking. Thus, no vacī or kāya saṅkhāra are possible in such thoughts. Those are the vipāka citta described in the Chachakka Sutta (MN 148.)

▪As discussed in the recent posts, the six steps in the Chachakka Sutta take place due to kamma vipāka. During that vipāka stage, first, one of the six types of viññāṇa experienced. They all are vipāka viññāṇa. They are cakkhu, sota, ghāna, jivhā, kāya, and mano viññāṇa. The last step is “vedanā paccayā taṇhā.”

▪In all those six steps, one does not get to think. They happen automatically. It is important to realize that one consciously generates vacī or kāya saṅkhāra with sobhana or asobhana cetasika. Only mano saṅkhāra (without kammic consequences) is generated in those six steps.

Paṭicca Samuppāda Starts With “Saḷāyatana Paccayā Phassa”

7. As we discussed in previous posts, the Paṭicca Samuppāda cycle starts not with “avijjā paccayā saṅkhāra,” but with “saḷāyatana paccayā phassa.” This is why we spent a lot of time discussing the Chachakka Sutta (MN 148.) It may be a good idea to review those posts.

▪There has to be a ārammaṇa strong enough to generate interest. For example, seeing an attractive/repulsive figure, tasting something tasty/bitter, hearing a soothing/loud noise, etc.

8. Such vipāka viññāṇa come about via, “cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ” through “mānañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ” per Chachakka Sutta. We discussed in a previous post that those steps are equivalent to “saḷāyatana paccayā phasso, phassa paccayā vedanā, vedanā paccayā taṇhā” steps in Paṭicca Samuppāda. See, “Paṭicca Samuppāda – A “Self” Exists Due to Avijjā.”

▪In other words, during the vipāka stage, “avijjā paccayā saṅkhāra” followed by “saṅkhāra paccayā viññāṇa” DOES NOT take place, as we can see.

▪After getting to “vedanā paccayā taṇhā” with the initial sensory event on a new ārammaṇa, the next step in the Paṭicca Samuppāda cycle starts. The next step is “taṇhā paccayā upādāna.” That is when kamma viññāṇa arises because we start acting with avijjā.

▪Let us see how vacī and kāya saṅkhāra arise once one gets attached and gets “stuck” in a ārammaṇa (taṇhā.) That is the beginning of a complex process involved in the “taṇhā paccayā upādāna” step.

Vitakka/Vicāra Initiate Abhisaṅkhāra

9. When one is “stuck” with a particular ārammaṇa, one starts CONSCIOUSLY thinking about it. That involves vitakka and vicāra mental factors (cetasika.) That means one starts “looking into that ārammaṇa deeper (vitakka), and, in detail (vicāra).

▪We can get an idea with the following example. Suppose we go to a showroom to buy a car. If we get interested in a certain car, we scrutinize it. We ask questions from the salesman and get more information about that car. In the same way, when we get interested in any ārammaṇa, we start thinking about different aspects of it.

▪In particular, when we like a given ārammaṇa (that car could be one), we start imagining how nice it would be to have it parked on the driveway and how the neighbors may be impressed by it. We often start “daydreaming” about how we will enjoy it. Those are all vacī saṅkhāra with vitakka and vicāra.

▪Of course, we may also start talking about how good it is. Speaking out also involves vitakka/vicāra.

▪If any of those thoughts involve “bad” (asobhana) cetasika (like greed), then such conscious thoughts become vacī abhisaṅkhāra.

10. If we get interested in a ārammaṇa, we may take action too. We may go to other showrooms to look at similar models and compare prices. We may search the internet for other car dealers in the area, etc.

▪Such actions involve moving body parts. As we will see below, kāya saṅkhāra lead to those actions.

▪If those thoughts involve “bad” (asobhana) cetasika, then such kāya saṅkhāra becomes kāya abhisaṅkhāra.

▪More information at, “Vitakka, Vicāra, Savitakka, Savicāra, and Avitakka, Avicāra.” I recommend reading that post to get further details and Tipiṭaka references.

Saṅkappa Means Thinking and Thus Vacī Saṅkhāra

11. Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117): “Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammāsaṅkappo ariyo anāsavo lokuttaro maggaṅgo? Yo kho, bhikkhave, ariyacittassa anāsavacittassa ariyamaggasamaṅgino ariyamaggaṁ bhāvayato takko vitakko saṅkappo appanā (fixing of thought on an object) byappanā cetaso abhiniropanā (application) vacīsaṅkhāro—ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sammāsaṅkappo ariyo anāsavo lokuttaro maggaṅgo. “

Translated: “What, bhikkhus, is sammā saṅkappa that is noble, blameless, supramundane, a factor of the noble path? The thinking, re-thinking, Noble thoughts devoid of āsava — in one whose mind is noble, whose mind is devoid of āsava (anāsavo), who is on the noble path. That is sammā saṅkappa that is noble and a factor of the path.

▪Thus, it is obvious that Sammā Saṅkappa means generating thoughts focused on making progress on the Path.

▪They are “Noble vacī saṅkhāra” with the comprehension of anicca, dukkha, anatta and thus focused on Nibbāna.

▪By the way, such saṅkhāra arise in the “Kusala-Mūla Paṭicca Samuppāda” starting with “kusala-mūla paccayā saṅkhāra.” Note the difference from the Akusala-Mūla Paṭicca Samuppāda that starts with “avijjā paccayā saṅkhāra.” We will discuss the Kusala-Mūla Paṭicca Samuppāda in the future in this series. It is discussed in the Paṭicca Samuppāda section, “Kusala-Mūla Paṭicca Samuppāda.”

Not All Saṅkhārā Are Due to Avijjā (and Taṇhā)

12. Now we can see how one starts doing saṅkhāra due to avijjā only IF one is attached via taṇhā. That is the beginning of a Paṭicca Samuppāda cycle: “avijjā paccayā saṅkhārā.”

▪However, not all saṅkhāra create kamma viññāṇa that can bring good or bad kamma vipāka. For example, one may get thirsty (due to a ārammaṇa, too) and decide to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Walking to the kitchen involves kāya saṅkhāra (to get the body to move.) But that intention is neither good nor bad. It is kammically neutral. It was not due to avijjā.

▪All bodily activities, including breathing, are done with kāya saṅkhāra. But “avijjā paccayā saṅkhārā” comes into play ONLY IF bad or defiled intentions are in mind. There is no avijjā or taṇhā involved in breathing or the activities mentioned above (thus they DO NOT lead to abhisaṅkhāra).

Apuñña Abhisaṅkhārā Done with Avijjā (and Taṇhā)

13. Now, let us consider the actions of a thief. A person is waiting to see a doctor and sees someone has dropped a wallet. The moment he sees the wallet, his mind attaches to it (taṇhā). Then he thinks there could be some money in the wallet and an easy way to get some “free money.” Those conscious thoughts are vacī saṅkhāra. Then he picks it up and puts it in his pocket. That last step involves kāya saṅkhāra.

▪Here he did bodily actions with kāya saṅkhāra. He did that because he did not realize the future bad consequences of stealing. Thus “avijjā paccayā saṅkhārā” generated bad thoughts of picking up the wallet AND putting it in his pocket.

▪While he was doing that he had “bad saṅkhāra” (with bad cetanā) in his mind. The cetanā (intention) was to steal. Such bad saṅkhāra are apuñña abhisaṅkhāra. Both vacī and kāya saṅkhāra, in this example, were apuñña abhisaṅkhāra.

Puñña Abhisaṅkhārā Also Done with Avijjā (and Taṇhā)

14. In the previous post, “Kamma, Saṅkhāra, and Abhisaṅkhāra” (under #12) I pointed out briefly that puññābhisaṅkhāra and āneñjābhisaṅkhāra are also done with avijjā.

WebLink: suttacentral: Paṭiccasamuppāda Vibhaṅga, explains the term “avijjā paccayā saṅkhārā” in akusala-mula Paticca Samuppāda (that leads to suffering) as follows: “Tattha katame avijjā paccayā saṅkhārā? Puññābhisaṅkhāro, apuññābhisaṅkhāro, āneñjābhisaṅkhāro, kāyasaṅkhāro, vacīsaṅkhāro, cittasaṅkhāro.”

Translated: “What is avijjā paccayā saṅkhārā? Puññābhisaṅkhāra, apuññābhisaṅkhāra, āneñjābhisaṅkhāra, kāyasaṅkhāra, vacīsaṅkhāra, cittasaṅkhāra.” (here, citta saṅkhāra is the same as mano saṅkhāra). It is quite clear that apuññābhisaṅkhāra are due to avijjā. But why are the other two are said to be done due to avijjā?

▪Puññābhisaṅkhāra are, of course, Moral and good deeds AND also the cultivation of rūpāvacara jhāna.

▪Āneñjābhisaṅkhāra involve cultivating arūpāvacara samāpatti.

▪When a person who has not comprehended anicca, dukkha, or anatta engages in those two types of “good saṅkhāra,” they are still done with avijjā! That is because one has not yet grasped the dangers in remaining in the rebirth process.

▪To get the basic idea, let us briefly consider the following example.

15. Now let us consider the same scenario of #13 above with another average human. But this person has good, moral gati. He is always trying to do moral things and tries to abstain from doing immoral things.

▪This person will pick up the wallet and take it to the receptionist. The person who dropped the wallet may come back looking for it. It is possible that the wallet had not only his driver’s license but possibly credit cards and money. So, our good samaritan saved a lot of stress and work for the wallet owner.

▪That is an example of a puñña abhisaṅkhāra. But if it is an abhisaṅkhāra, done via “avijjā paccayā saṅkhārā.” Is that not a contradiction since he did a “good deed”?

▪To answer that question we need to understand the difference between the mundane eightfold path and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Two Eightfold Paths – Mundane Eightfold Path and the Noble Eightfold Path

16. The Buddha said that there are two eightfold paths (Mahācattārīsaka Sutta, MN 117). One is the mundane path, where one does good deeds without the comprehension of the “real nature of this world (yathābhūta ñāṇa).” One gets to the mundane path by first getting rid of the ten types of micchā diṭṭhi. I have discussed the two paths in the post, “What is Unique in Buddha Dhamma?“

▪Once one gets rid of the ten types of micchā diṭṭhi, another critical step involves getting to the Noble Eightfold Path. One must learn the “real nature of this world” or the anicca, dukkha, and anatta nature from a Noble person who learned that from a Noble person. That lineage goes back all the way to the Buddha. See, “Four Conditions for Attaining Sotāpanna Magga/Phala.”

▪Only a Buddha can discover the anicca, dukkha, and anatta nature by himself. All others need to learn that from a Noble person (Ariyā.) That is why most people are only exposed to the mundane eightfold path.

▪We will discuss the anicca, dukkha, and anatta nature in upcoming posts once we finish going through the steps in Paṭicca Samuppāda. Of course, it has been discussed in the sub-section, “Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta.” The current “Origin of Life” series attempts to get there systematically.