Section outline
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Lesson 3.8.12 Cittānupassanā - The Observation of Mind: Comprehending Its Quality and Character
This third chapter of the Mahāsatipaṭṭhānāsutta is of special importance for every meditator as it describes the ‘states of mind, of mental constitution, of consciousness’. Citte cittānupassī – observing and understanding ‘mind in mind’ refers to the quality, the character of the mind, to the condition and state of the respective consciousness occurring at different situations. A closer characterization of what is generally translated as ‘mind’ highlights the different terms that are used describing such a difficult psychological spectrum. ‘Citta’; ‘mano’, ‘viññāṇa’ and as well ‘nāma’ in ‘nāmarūpa’ -the designation of a conceptional potential identity of individuality- all are found being translated as ‘mind’.