Chanda (Buddhism)

Chanda (Sanskrit, Pali; Tibetan: ‘dun pa) - is translated as "intention", "interest", or "desire to act". It is defined as trying to possess a certain object–an interest or desire that supports the application of exertion.[1] It is one of the fifty-one or fifty-two mental states (saṅkhāra) within the Abhidharma teachings. In this context, it is regarded as a variable mental factor; one that can have positive or negative result depending upon the mental factors that it is co-joined with.

Ajahn Sucitto states:

Desire as an eagerness to offer, to commit, to apply oneself to meditation, is called chanda. It’s a psychological “yes,” a choice, not a pathology. In fact, you could summarize Dhamma training as the transformation of taṇhā into chanda. [2]

In the Abhidammatta Sangaha, the mental factors that are neither wholesome nor unwholesome are called "Ethically Variable." The Abhidammatta Sangaha states:

"Chanda here means desire to act (kattu-kamata), that is to perform an action or achieve some result. This kind of desire must be distinguished from desire in the reprehensible sense, that is, from lobha, greed and raga, lust. Whereas the latter terms are invariably unwholesome, chanda is an ethically variable factor which, when conjoined with wholesome concomitants, can function as the virtuous desire to achieve a worthy goal. The characteristic of chanda is desire to act, its function is searching for an object, its manifestation is need for an object and that same object is its proximate cause. It should be regarding as the stretching forth of the mind's hand towards the object." [3]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Kunsang, Erik Pema (translator) (2004). Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1. North Atlantic Books. p. 18.
  2. ^ Sucitto, Ajahn (2010-09-14). Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching (Kindle Location 935). Shambhala Publications. Kindle Edition.
  3. ^ Abhidammatta Sangaha, by Acariya Anuruddha (translation revised and edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi, along with an explanatory guide by U Rewata Dhamma & Bhikkhu Bodhi), p. 82. BPS Pariyatti Editions, Seattle.)

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