Interpretations of ummatta and khittacitta in the Sarvāstivādin Shisong lü “Zasong” (Vinītaka):

The Possibility of Influence from Abhidharma Texts

Abstract

The interpretations of ummatta (Chi. kuang 狂) and khittacitta (Chi. sanluan xin 散乱心) are found in the “Zasong” 雑誦 (Vinītaka) which describes the cases referring to rules in the tenth recitation of the Sarvāstivādin Shisong lü 十誦律. These interpretations cannot be found in other Vinayapiṭaka Vinītaka. However, it is interesting that similar interpretations are found in the Abhidharma texts.

It is widely recognized that the Abhidharma texts postdate the Vinayapiṭaka. In this paper, I discuss the relationship of influence between the Sarvāstivādin Shisong lü and Abhidharma texts concerning these similar interpretations of ummatta and khittacitta. In other words, the Sarvāstivādin Shisong lü exerts an influence on Abhidharma texts, or vice versa. I show three pieces of evidence that prove these interpretations of ummatta and khittacitta in the Sarvāstivādin Shisong lü are influenced by Abhidharma texts.