Observations on the Term Bhavaṅga as Described in the Jié tuō dào lùn (* Vimuttimagga ): Its Proper English Translation and Understanding

Abstract

The term bhavaṅga is regarded as a unique technical term of Theravāda abhidhamma tradition, and the text Jié tuō dào lùn, i.e. the Chinese translation of *Vimuttimagga, mentions yŏufēnxīn the Chinese counterpart of bhavaṅga 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 Jié tuō dào lùn has been considered and interpreted by former translations in the same way as it is in other Pāli abhidhamma texts. Indeed, the Jié tuō dào lùn has more than similar definitions for bhavaṅga. 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 bhavaṅga. 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 bhavaṅga shed light on some salient features of the Jié tuō dào lùn.