Observations on the Term Bhavanga as Described in the Jie tuo dao lun (*Vimuttimagga): Its Proper English Translation and Understanding

Abstract

The term bhavariga is regarded as a unique technical term of Theravada abhidhamma tradition, and the text Jie tuo dao lun, i.e. the Chinese translation of *Vimuttimagga, mentions youfenxin the Chinese counterpart of bhavariga eleven times. These occurrences are found in the section of the text on the cognitive process. The text is, however, too abstruse to understand the term easily, and the existing translations of it are imperfect. Subsequently, the term in the Jie tuo dao lun has been considered and interpreted by former translations in the same way as it is in other Pali abhidhamma texts. Indeed, the Jie tuo dao lun has more than similar definitions for bhavariga. It is described as the inactive state of mind from which the active states of mind arise. On the other hand, there are also a number of small but significant differences in its description of bhavariga. It has no sub-states, and there are no technical terms for conditional relations with other states of mind. The similarities and differences found in the discussion of bhavariga shed light on some salient features of the Jie tuo dao lun.