Phase-conditions of consciousness (Buddhism)

The phenomena of consciousness are events in a network of preconditions or constraints, of concomitants and of resultant conditions. The paccaya show, in 24 phases, how any state of mental or physical phenomena is conditioned by these interdependent stages. They represent a key analytical element in Buddhist epistemology and are a logical paradigm or taxonomy applicable to classifying states and stages of consciousness.

While the paccaya may be an a priori exercise in classification, another system, also of an epistemological nature, seems to be experimentally or experientially based. The Functions of Consciousness (vinnana-kicca), unlike the paccaya network, appears to be strictly a time-successive, linear progression of 14 function activities involving the subconscious, the sense-consciousness, and those functions called, "mind-element", "mind-consciousness element", and "rootless-mind-consciousness element". This system is used to develop the 89 states of consciousness (vinnana-khanda).