ārammaṇa
Object of consciousness
[ aa-RUM-ma-na ]
Seeing it in life
Visible form, sound, smell, taste, tangible, mental object. Every citta arises holding an ārammaṇa.
In short
What citta cognizes — the six classes of objects.
The analysis
Ārammaṇa is whatever citta cognizes — classified into six kinds matching the six sense doors: visible form, sound, smell, taste, tangible object, and mental object (dhammārammaṇa, the broadest category, covering memories, abstract concepts, and even other cittas as objects of reflection). Every citta, without exception, arises holding some ārammaṇa — consciousness is never objectless in this framework.
Where it sits
Ārammaṇa is one leg of the tripod that constitutes phassa — object, sense base, and consciousness arising together — and the specific ārammaṇa present at a given moment determines which sense-door process is engaged.
In this very moment, whatever these words are as visible or heard language is the current ārammaṇa of the citta engaged with them — the framework's point being that this holding of an object is universal and constant.
Commonly mistaken for
Only physical, external objects. Dhammārammaṇa includes internal phenomena — memories, ideas, even observation of one's own mind — as legitimate ārammaṇa.
Something citta sometimes lacks. Every citta, by definition, arises with an object; there's no such thing as objectless consciousness in this scheme.
Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha III; Sabba Sutta (SN 35.23).
Related terms