Pali madutā | ||
English malleability,softness,pliancy | ||
Madutā (Pali) is a Buddhist term translated as "malleability", and it is the basis for the following pair of mental factors within the Theravada Abhidharma teachings:
These two mental factors have the characteristic of the subsiding of rigidity (thambha) in the mental body and consciousness, respectively.
Definition
Bhikkhu Bodhi states:
The twofold malleability has the characteristic of the subsiding of rigidity (thambha) in the mental body and consciousness, respectively. Its function is to crush rigidity. It is manifested as non-resistance, and its proximate cause is the mental body and consciousness. It should be regarded as opposed to such defilements as wrong views and conceit, which create rigidity.Nina van Gorkom explains:
According to the Dhammasangani (par 44, 45) this pair of cetasikas consist in suavity, smoothness and absence of rigidity.The Atthasālinī (I, Book I, Part IV, Chapter I, 130) states:
They have the characteristic of suppressing the rigidity of mental factors and of consciousness; the function of crushing the same in both; the manifestation or effect of setting up no resistance; and have mental factors and consciousness as proximate cause. They are the opponents of the corruptions, such as opinionatedness (diṭṭhi) and conceit which cause mental rigidity.References
Mudutā Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA