Citta (disciple)

Part of a series on Buddhism Outline · Portal

History Timeline · Councils Gautama Buddha Later Buddhists

Dharma or concepts Four Noble Truths Five Aggregates Impermanence Suffering · Non-self Dependent Origination Middle Way · Emptiness Karma · Rebirth Samsara · Cosmology

Practices Three Jewels Noble Eightfold Path Morality · Perfections Meditation · Mindfulness Wisdom · Compassion Aids to Enlightenment Monasticism · Laity

Nirvāṇa Four Stages · Arahant Buddha · Bodhisattva

Traditions · Canons Theravāda · Pali Mahāyāna · Chinese Vajrayāna · Tibetan

v · d · e

Citta
Religious career
Teacher	Buddha

Citta (Sanskrit: Citra) was one of the chief lay disciples of the Buddha. He was a wealthy merchant from Savatthi. His life and character were so pure that near his death, had he wished to be a chakravartin, it would've been granted. However, he turned down this wish as it was temporal. He became a saint that became a non-returner.

In an early sutta (SN IV.297-300), Citta is asked by Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira) if he believes the Buddha who says that there is a concentration free from deliberation and thought. He initially gives an ambiguous answer, but then turns out not to believe, but to know these things from his own experience obtained while practicing the jhanas.^[1]

Notes

1. ^ Johannes Bronkhorst, The Two Traditions of Meditation in Ancient India. Franz Steiner Verlag, 1986, page 83.

External links

• http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/disciples14.htm
• "Citta" in the Buddhist Dictionary of Pali Proper Names.

Persondata
Name	Citta
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death