12 types of unwholesome consciousness

12 types of unwholesome consciousness:

Rooted in Greed:

1. Unprompted consciousness joined with joy and false view. Example: Greedy and careless one spontaneously enjoys sense pleasure.

2. Prompted consciousness joined with joy and false view. Ex: Greedy and careless one urged by others enjoys sense pleasure.

3. Unprompted consciousness with joy, but not false view. Ex: Greedy, yet not careless one spontaneously enjoys sense pleasure.

4. Prompted consciousness joined with joy, but not false view. Ex: Greedy, though not careless one urged on enjoys sense pleasure.

5. Unprompted consciousness with equanimity and false view. Ex: Greedy and careless one spontaneously indifferent takes pleasure.

6. Prompted consciousness joined with equanimity and false view. Ex: Greedy and careless one, urged on, yet indifferent takes pleasure.

7. Unprompted consciousness with equanimity, but no false view. Ex: Greedy, not careless one spontaneously and bored takes pleasure.

8. Prompted consciousness with equanimity, but no false view. Ex: Greedy, not careless, one urged on, takes pleasure not enjoying. The common false view is here: There is no danger in sense pleasure. Addicted to sensing, beings have been drawn back into birth and death billions of times and thus killed by this sense pleasure billions of times. Sense pleasure is therefore the most dangerous of all serial killers.

Rooted in Hate:

9. Unprompted consciousness joined with sorrow and aversion. Example: Angry and frustrated one spontaneously harms or kills.

10. Prompted consciousness joined with sorrow and aversion. Ex: Angry and frustrated one, urged on by others, harms or kills.

Rooted in Confusion:

11. Consciousness joined with indifference, doubt, and uncertainty. Ex: Confused one cannot make up one's mind nor take any decision.

12. Consciousness joined with indifference, and restless agitation. Ex: Confused one remains distracted, scattered, and unsettled.

(from Abhidhamma Dhammasangani, Visuddhimagga XIV. 81)

References

• The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
• http://www.thedhamma.com/