Two Mental Factors Piti and Passadhi in Meditation

As a meditator who follows the teaching of the Buddha in practicing the

dhamma, it is better to have the knowledge of the Abhidhamma such as five
aggregates, four Noble Truths, etc. By understanding this, the meditator can separate
easily mental factors and it may lead to get differentiation of mind and matter.
Therefore I would like to discuss about Piti and Passadhi, essential mental factors
experienced in meditation.

Piti, one kind of mental factors in fifty two Cetasica, means rapture, delight,
happiness interest in object. Its symptom is endearing, and functions is to refresh the
body and the mind, or to pervade (thrill with rapture). It's manifested as elation. There
are five kinds of Piti, minor rapture, momentary rapture, showering rapture, uplifting
rapture and pervading rapture.

The difference between the five kinds of Piti is as follow: minor rapture is only
able to raise the hairs on the body. Momentary rapture is like flashes of lightning at
different moments. Showering rapture breaks over the body again and again like
waves on the sea shore. Uplifting rapture can be powerful enough to levitate the body
and make it spring up into the air.

Passadhi means tranquility, calmness, relaxation. In the Abhidhamma and its

commentary, Passadhi is distinguished into two parts; Kayapassadhi and
Cittapassadhi. Of these, Kāya passadhi Kāya here means collection, heap, and
combination. It does not refer to our physical body. It is a collection of three mental
factor aggregates; feeling, perception and mental formations. Kāyapassadhi means
tranquility of these three aggregates. Cittapassadhi means tranquility of aggregate of
consciousness.

The characteristic of these twofold tranquility is to quiet down of disturbances

in the mental body and consciousness, respectively. It has the function of crushing
such disturbances. It is conspicuous as peacefulness and coolness. Its proximate cause
is mental factor and consciousness. Restlessness and worry are opposite of the twofold
transquility.

Piti, Passadhi are very beneficial for a meditator and many good comsequence
are drived from them. When Piti is matured, it fills the twofold tranquility bodily and
mental tranquility. Tranquility, when matured, perfects the twofold bliss. When bliss
is matured, it fills three kinds of Samadhi: momentary Concentration, access
concentration, absorption concentration. Then, this concentration leads to tranquility
knowledge and insight knowledge. Therefore, whoever practices meditation should be
cultivate the Piti and Passadhi as they support very in meditation.

Ashin Dhammapiya