B. Sankhara citta

 B

Beautiful — you’re moving systematically through the core structure of the Buddhist mind as explained in the Abhidhamma:

Vedanā (feeling) → Saññā (perception) → Saṅkhāra (volitional formations) → Viññāṇa (consciousness).

Let’s explore Saṅkhāra Citta — the volitional or formative aspect of consciousness — in clear, layered detail.

🪷 1️⃣ Meaning and Etymology

• Saṅkhāra (सङ्खार / သင်္ခါရ) — “formations,” “fabrications,” or “mental constructions.”
  
• From sam (together) + kara (to make, to do).
• Literally: “that which puts together,” “that which constructs.”
• 
  
• Citta (चित्त / စိတ်) — “mind” or “moment of consciousness.”

So Saṅkhāra-citta means a mind imbued with volitional formation — a mind that constructs, reacts, and creates karmic impulses.

⚙️ 2️⃣ The Function of Saṅkhāra

In the Abhidhamma, saṅkhāra refers primarily to volition (cetanā) and other mental factors that shape the ethical and karmic quality of the mind.

Each moment of consciousness (citta) is accompanied by some form of saṅkhāra, which:

• initiates intention (cetanā) — “I will do, speak, or think this.”
• directs attention toward an object.
• conditions future mental states and kamma (karma).

Thus, every citta with volition is a kamma-producing citta — it sets the direction of future experience.

🔁 3️⃣ Saṅkhāra in the Chain of Dependent Origination

Avijjā (ignorance) → Saṅkhārā (volitional formations) → Viññāṇa (consciousness)

• Under ignorance, volitional formations (kamma-producing intentions) arise.
• These condition consciousness in future lives or future moments.
• Hence, saṅkhāra acts as the bridge between ignorance and rebirth-consciousness.

A Saṅkhāra-citta is therefore a constructive or karmically potent moment of mind — it fabricates future experience.

🧠 4️⃣ In Abhidhamma Classification

In the Abhidhamma, saṅkhāra corresponds to a large group of mental factors (cetasikas) — 50 of them, to be exact — excluding vedanā and saññā, which are listed separately.

These include:

• Cetanā (volition)
• Chanda (desire-to-act)
• Adhimokkha (decision)
• Viriya (energy)
• Sati (mindfulness)
• Ekaggatā (concentration)
• and many others.

When these arise together with consciousness, they create a Saṅkhāra-citta, i.e., a formative mental moment.

💭 5️⃣ In Practice and Experience

In everyday and meditative experience:

• Vedanā is how you feel (pleasant, unpleasant, neutral).
• Saññā is what you recognize or label it as.
• Saṅkhāra is how you react — the mental construction, intention, or habitual pattern that follows.

Example:

You hear harsh words.

• Vedanā: unpleasant feeling arises.
• Saññā: you perceive “I am insulted.”
• Saṅkhāra: anger arises — “I will respond harshly!”

But with mindfulness, you can see the saṅkhāra forming, and not follow it — this is liberation in action.

🪶 6️⃣ Summary Table

Aspect	Pāli Term	Function
Feeling	Vedanā	Raw affective tone (pleasant, unpleasant, neutral)
Perception	Saññā	Recognition and labeling
Formation	Saṅkhāra	Volition, reaction, mental construction
Consciousness	Viññāṇa	Basic awareness of the object

A Saṅkhāra-citta is thus a mind moment driven by volition and habit-energy — the architect of future mind and experience.

Would you like me to show how saṅkhāra-citta leads into viññāṇa in the chain of paṭiccasamuppāda (dependent origination)? I can illustrate that sequence visually or step-by-step.