204: Consciousness by Nature (Genus)

In this episode, we explore how the Buddha classified consciousness by its nature, or jāti, into four main types: wholesome (kusala), unwholesome (akusala), resultant (vipāka), and functional (kiriya). Each reveals how the mind operates and shapes karma.

Wholesome consciousness arises from non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion—qualities that lead to clarity, compassion, and wisdom. Unwholesome consciousness is rooted in greed, anger, and ignorance, producing pain and confusion. Resultant consciousness refers to the fruits of past actions—the pleasant or unpleasant experiences we meet—while functional consciousness performs its role without creating new karma, as seen in the minds of Buddhas and arahants.

This teaching helps us see, with precision, how every thought and intention carries a nature—creative, reactive, or simply aware. Understanding these four kinds of mind deepens our insight into karma, mindfulness, and the path toward liberation.

YouTube Video Link

YouTube Channel Link

Website:
www.satipatthana.ca

Donations and Memberships

Transcript

Sayar Myat: 0:02

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa,Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa, Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa. Theravada Buddhism series, Dhamma talk number twenty seven. types of consciousness by nature we have discussed types of consciousness by planes of existence in the last talk. In this one we will discuss the classification of consciousness by nature. In the book it says by genius G-E-N-U-S. By nature, consciousness is divided into four divisions kusala akusala vipaka and griya chitak kusala akusala vipaka and griachitak. We'll go these one by one and explain what it means. What is kusalat? K-S-A-L-A. What is Kusalak? It is translated as moral, also as skillful, and also as wholesome. Three different renditions in English. The word moral cannot be standarcized as there are many standards of morals based on race, colour, religion, tradition, and culture. So it gives a ambiguous meaning. Here, the word skillful means having skill in not doing evil. However, skillful, the word skillful, can be perceived as a skill in doing good as well as evil. But in here it's supposed to be ability to not to do evil. So for people unfamiliar with the word kusala, skillful can be perceived in both ways, good as well as evil. The third word, wholesome. It indicates that consciousness is associated with wholesome or beautiful mental factors. Wholesome consciousness is faultless and blameless, and produce a beneficial result. However, a consciousness that is flawless, but does not produce a beneficial result is not a wholesome consciousness. My teacher said the most appropriate translation for Kusala in English is wholesome. Wholesome consciousness arises from the three roots of goodness, non-greed, non-il or anger, and non-delusion. Such consciousness are associated with loving kindness, compassion, not wanting, letting go, and insight into the true nature of mind and matter, Nama Rupa. There are twenty-one or thirty-seven wholesome consciousness. The difference in number is due to counting the super mundane as the four or twenty. In future talks when we deal specifically, specifically with these. Although it might be profitable for yourself, it won't be beneficial for others, and it is full of faults and blameable nature. It associates with unwholesome mental factors. Akusala is defined as activities associated with three mental defilements, faulty and blamable, and does not produce beneficial result. If you see these characters, that is the characters of Akusalat Jita, unwholesome consciousness. Try to reflect the best of your ability on your deed, speech, and thought in your everyday life. If there is greed, if there is anger or if there is delusion in these actions, they are unwholesome consciousness. Streamline yourself so that the frequency of arising of such unwholesome consciousness becomes less and less daily activities observation the best as you can. Let's see. When you're eating a meal, what kind of consciousness is there? When you are eating a meal, what kind of consciousness is there? While you are eating you think or you say something like, Oh, this is delicious, fantastic, give me more. I want it more, whether in terms of thoughts or speech. If you say like that, if you think like that, there is greed in that action. Of course, that greed is not detrimental to others. Nevertheless, it is still unwholesome. It is still akusalat. But karma is not weighty or serious. That unwholesome karma is not weighty or serious. And the consequences are negligible, most likely for the continuation of existence. Abhidhamma discerns wholesome from unwholesome. With precision, the key word is precision. It doesn't give any room for wrong interpretation or wrong perception. Otherwise, there are many cases that we perceived or what we perceived as wholesome is unwholesome. For yogis who are heading towards liberation, knowing right from wrong, good from evil is vital, it's very important. If you remember, in a summarized form of in a very short summarized form of Buddhism is avoid evil, do good. Keep your mind pure to avoid evil and to do good. One must know what is good and what is evil, what is right and what is wrong with precision. That's why it is very important to know exactly what is right and what is wrong. And Abhidhamma will teach you that. And the next one is we baka V I P A K E. What is Vipa? It is translated as resultant. Wholesome actions produce desirable results and unwholesome actions produce undesirable result. These good or bad results are called we baga. These good or bad results are called resultants we baga. The actions of wholesome consciousness and unwholesome consciousness are karma. The actions are karma and the result or the effects is vibaka. Resultant. Or you can say it complete resultant consciousness. Resultant, resultant consciousness. They are one and the same. All the pleasant and unpleasant objects we came across, we encounter in this life are wholesome and unwholesome resultant consciousness. All pleasants and unpleasant objects, conditions, situations that we encounter in this life are wholesome consciousness and unwholesome resultant consciousness. Wholesome resultant consciousness and unwholesome resultant consciousness. Result of the past life karma. That's it. They cannot produce new karma. Only a reaction to that situation creates a new karma. These resultant consciousness arises and simply pass away without producing new karma. There are thirty-six or fifty-two resultant consciousness. The different sets of number will be explained later. Why? The fourth and the last one is Kriya. What is Kriya? K R I Y A Kriya or Kriya Jita. One the same. It is translated as functional. Kriya functional. Actions. What are actions? Actions indeed, action and speech, action and thoughts. Actions of functional consciousness do not produce new karma. That's a key point. These functional consciousness have actions. It's actions by itself. But they do not produce new karma. They arise and do their functions, do their job and disappear without leaving any residue, without leaving any trees of new karma. There are twenty griya of functional consciousness. Out of twenty, eighteen kinds of functional consciousness arises only in Buddhas, Pichika Buddhas, the Silent Buddha, and Arhat. Y twenty, Y eighteen, and so on later. And this is the introduction of the classifications of consciousness by nature, genius. And these natures are what? Akusala unwholesome Kusala wholesome we baka resultant and griya functional consciousness. Altogether they are a nine or a hundred and twenty-one consciousness. In the following talks, we will discuss the these groups separately. May all of you be able to understand what the mind consciousness jigdak is without any ambiguity and delusion or illusion as soon as possible. Thank you very much.