Dear Stephen,

Thank you for your reply which I thought informative and certainly
helpful. So far, you have mentioned the derivation of 'citta' (mind)
from the roots 'cit' and 'ci' as found outside of the Theravaada, but
there's been no mention of another one related to 'citra' in the sense
of 'variegated' which I think may be derived from the root 'citt'
(Sadd 1461 citta cittakara.ne, kadaaci dassane pi; cp Pa.nini's
Dhaatup X 370 for 'citr'). This third one seems to be supported by the
Gaddula Sutta (2) (SN XXII.100, S III 151-2). It's been awhile since I
looked at this sutta but from a quick glance I saw the word 'cintita'
which I thought might lend some support for the derivation of citta
from cint. Just needs a closer look.

In

> passing, the curious word "bodhisattva" is another interesting word.

We

> have "bodhisatta" in Pali etc, but the "satta" bit can be

Sanskritized in

> several ways. Based on research in the earliest Chinese

translations and

> other evidence, it seems that the sense of the "satta" should not be
> "sattva" but "sakta" -- so a bodhisatta is 'one who cleaves to

bodhi'. Is

> this possibility known to Theravadin exegetes ?

Yes, I think there is a good possibility. In the commentary to MN the
word 'bodhisatta' is interpreted by a second alternative: "bodhiyaa
vaa sattasseva laggasseva sato." (Ps I 113). I believe the word
'laggassa' (p.p. 'adhered' > 'adherent') is a synonym of 'sattassa'.
The root of Skt. 'sakta' is 'sa~nja' in the sense of 'sa.mge'
according to Paa.nini's Dhaatup I 1036. The Dhaatumaala of the
Saddaniiti also has the same: 213 sa~nja sa"nge. 'Sa"ngo' is then
explained by 'laggana.m' which must surely be linked to the 'laggassa'
in the MN commentary. I have thought that N.A. Jayawickrama's
translation of 'bodhisatta' as 'Aspirant to Enlightenment' might be
based on this alternative interpretation. Have you ever come across
any mention of pratyekabodhisattvas or "sraavakabodhisattvas in
non-Theravaadin texts?

Best wishes,
Jim