Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Vigatapaccaya: [m.] Disappearance condition; Departure condition. Formed by vigata (gone away, disappeared, departed) + paccaya (condition).
Orthodox Definition
Vigata-paccaya is the twenty-third of the 24 Conditions. Functionally and structurally, it operates in exact correspondence with the Absence condition (Natthi-paccaya), tracking the precise chronological dynamics of mental succession.
The texts explain that this condition describes those exact, immediately ceased mental phenomena rendering critical assistance by means of their departed state (vigatabhāvena). While the absence condition establishes the structural vacancy of a prior state, the disappearance condition registers the literal departure and clearing away of those immediately preceding consciousnesses and mental factors (samanantaravigatā). This structural clearing acts as the vital causal necessity that allows present, oncoming mental configurations to assert their own existence in uninterrupted succession.
Quote
te eva vigatabhāvena upakārakattā vigatapaccayo.
Those very (immediately ceased) dhammas, by being helpful due to their departed state, are the Vigata-paccayo (Disappearance Condition).yathāha – samanantaravigatā cittacetasikā dhammā paṭuppannānaṃ cittacetasikānaṃ dhammānaṃ vigatapaccayena paccayoti.
As it is said: “Immediately departed cittas and cetasikas are a condition for present cittas and cetasikas by way of Disappearance condition.”— Pañcapakaraṇa-aṭṭhakathā
Textual References
- Commentary: Pañcapakaraṇa-aṭṭhakathā – Formalizing the functional definition of immediately departed cognitive states (samanantaravigatā) rendering structural assistance strictly through their status of departure (vigatabhāva).