Cetana as a
link in the "Dependant Origination" is called abhissankhara There
are three kinds of abhissankhara.
1) meritorious
kamma-formations (punnabhisankhara)1
2) demeritorious kamma-formations
(apunn abhisankhara)
3) imperturbable kamma-formations
(anenjabhisankhara)
Meritorious kamma-formations
are the cetanas which accompany the eight kamma kusala cittas or maha-kusala
cittas (kusala cittas of the sense-sphere)2, and the five rupavacara kusala
cittas (rupa-jhacittas)3.
Demeritorious kamma-formations
are the cetanas which accompany the twelve akusala cittas, which are: eight
lobha mula-cittas, two dosa-mula-cittas and two moha-mula-cittas.
Imperturbable kamma-formations are the cetanas which accompany
the four arupavacara kusala cittas (arupa-jhanacittas) The meritorious
kamma-formations and the demeritorious kamma formation which produce rebirth-consciousness
also produce rupa. The imperturbable kamma-formations do not produce rupa.
Those who cultivate arupa-jhana have realized the disadvantages of rupa.
The arupavacara kusala cittas which ate very tranquil, very refined produce
rebirth-consciousness in the relevant arupa-brahma planes where there is
no rupa and no sense-Impressions. There are four arupa-brahma planes corresponding
to the four stages of arupa jhana.
These three classes of kamma-formations are a link in the Dependent Origination.