DISCERNING THE TWO FORMS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Question:
“What are the two terms that Śaivites use for distinguishing the pure consciousness of Śiva from the ordinary, unevolved consciousness of an average person?”
Gemini:
This is a crucial distinction in Śaivism, particularly in the non-dual schools like Kashmir Shaivism. They use two primary terms to distinguish the supreme, pure consciousness of Śiva from the limited, unevolved consciousness of an average person.
The two terms are:
Cit (चित्): This refers to the Absolute, Pure Consciousness of Śiva. It is universal, unconditioned, infinite, non-dual, and the ultimate ground of all reality. It is the self-luminous awareness that is never affected by anything. This is the ultimate "I-consciousness" (aham).
Citta (चित्त): This refers to the ordinary, individual, and limited consciousness of an unevolved person. It is conditioned, fragmented, and constantly fluctuating. It is the realm of the mind, intellect, ego, thoughts, emotions, and sense perceptions. In essence, it is the mental apparatus of the bound soul (paśu) that experiences duality and suffering.
In summary:
Cit: The universal, pure, ultimate Consciousness (Śiva).
Citta: The individual, impure, limited mind (of the paśu).
The entire spiritual path in Śaivism is about transcending the limitations and fluctuations of Citta to recognize one's true, inherent nature as Cit. It's not about acquiring something new, but recognizing what was always there.
THE LINGUISTIC NITTY GRITTY
Question:
“Please elaborate the above, by defining, linguistically, the two Sanskrit words; along with how Śaivites themselves use them in their philosophy, theory, and practice.”
Gemini:
Of course. This linguistic and philosophical distinction between Cit and Citta is fundamental to understanding the Śaivite path. It's not merely a semantic difference but points to two entirely different orders of reality and experience.
Let's elaborate on each, linguistically and philosophically.
1. Cit (चित्)
Linguistic Roots and Meaning:
Root: Derived from the Sanskrit verbal root
cit-(चित्), which means "to perceive, observe, know, understand, be aware, appear, shine."1 Noun Form: As a noun, it means "consciousness, intelligence, understanding, thinking, perception."
2 It often implies a pure, unconditioned, and luminous awareness.Grammatical Form: It is a feminine noun.
3 Connotations: It carries a sense of innate luminosity, absolute knowing, and unchangeable being.
Śaivite Philosophical Usage:
The Absolute Reality: In Kashmir Shaivism, Cit is synonymous with Paramaśiva (Supreme Shiva). It is the one, non-dual, infinite, and unconditioned consciousness that is the ultimate ground and substance of all existence. It is the self-luminous Light (Prakāśa) that illuminates itself and everything else.
Transcendence and Immanence: Cit is both transcendent (beyond all categories) and immanent (the very essence of every individual and every phenomenon). There is nothing outside of Cit.
The "I" (Aham): Cit is the ultimate "I"-consciousness, the pure subjectivity that is the source of all manifestation. It is the perfect subject that can never be an object.
The Goal: The ultimate goal of the Śaivite path is the recognition (pratyabhijñā) of one's true identity as this universal Cit. It's not an achievement but a remembrance of what always was.
Śaivite Theoretical and Practical Usage:
Theory: The entire cosmology (the 36 Tattvas) is understood as the manifestation of Cit through its power Śakti. The world is not separate from Cit but a vibrant expression of it.
Practice: Meditations (such as śāmbhavopāya) aim to transcend all mental constructs and directly experience this pure, objectless Cit. Techniques often involve intense focus to dissolve the subject-object duality, allowing the mind to collapse into its source. The awakening of Kuṇḍalinī-Śakti eventually leads to the experience of Cit permeating all of reality.
2. Citta (चित्त)
Linguistic Roots and Meaning:
Root: Also derived from the same root
cit-(चित्), but often with a suffix (-ta) that gives it a more concrete or reified sense.Noun Form: It means "mind, thought, attention, intellect, heart (as seat of feelings), conscience, understanding." It refers to the active, functioning, and often fragmented mental apparatus.
Grammatical Form: It is a neuter noun.
Connotations: It implies the mental faculty that thinks, perceives, and reacts. It is dynamic but also inherently limited and conditioned.
Śaivite Philosophical Usage:
The Limited Mind: Citta is considered a lower manifestation, a product of Māyā (the power of illusion/limitation) in the cosmic descent. It is the realm of the impure Tattvas (specifically, it includes Buddhi, Ahaṃkāra, and Manas—intellect, ego, and sensory mind).
The Bound Soul's Experience: For the paśu (the bound individual soul), Citta is the primary instrument through which it experiences the world, perceives duality, and undergoes the cycles of karma and suffering. It's the "thinking mind" that continually creates distinctions and attachments.
The Obstacle: Citta's inherent tendency to objectify, conceptualize, and create dualities (like "I" and "this," "good" and "bad") is precisely what obscures the pure, non-dual Cit. It is the veil.
Śaivite Theoretical and Practical Usage:
Theory: The entire experience of samsara (cyclic existence) is seen as a construct of the Citta. The world appears solid and separate because the Citta projects these qualities.
Practice: Many Śaivite yogic practices (especially within ānupāya and śāktopāya) are designed to still, control, and ultimately transcend the Citta. This includes:
Concentration (dhāraṇā): Focusing the Citta to make it one-pointed.
Meditation (dhyāna): Sustaining that one-pointedness.
Withdrawal of Senses (pratyāhāra): Reining in the Citta's outward tendencies.
The ultimate aim is for the Citta to dissolve or merge into its source, the Cit, leaving only pure awareness.
Analogy for Clarity
Think of a projector and a blank screen:
Cit is the screen itself—vast, unchanging, and the fundamental ground upon which everything appears. It is the pure Light that allows anything to be seen.
Citta is the movie being projected onto the screen—the images, sounds, stories, and dramas. It is dynamic, ever-changing, and can be captivating or distressing, but it is ultimately dependent on the screen for its existence.
The Śaivite path is about realizing that you are not merely a character in the movie (Citta), nor even just the movie itself, but the unchanging, eternal screen (Cit) upon which all movies play.
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