Cetanā

Translations of Cetanā
English	volition, intention, directionality of mind, attraction, urge
Pali	चेतना (cetanā)
Sanskrit	चेतना (cetanā)
Chinese	思
Tibetan	སེམས་པ། (Wylie: sems pa; THL: sempa)
Glossary of Buddhism

Cetanā (Sanskrit, Pali; Tibetan Wylie: sems pa) is a Buddhist term commonly translated as "volition", "intention", "directionality", etc. It can be defined as a mental factor that moves or urges the mind in a particular direction, toward a specific object or goal.Cetanā is identified within the Buddhist teachings as follows:

Bhikkhu Bodhi states:

The Atthasālinī (I, Part IV, Chapter I, 111) states that cetanā has the characteristic of coordinating the associated dhammas (citta and the other cetasikas) on the object and that its function is 'willing'. We read:

Geshe Tashi Tsering states:

The Abhidharma-samuccaya states:

Herbert Guenther explains:

Alexander Berzin states:

Mipham Rinpoche states:

Cetanā operates with six supports, or along six channels:

In the Buddhist tradition, cetana is considered the most important mental factor in the generation of karma.

Bhikkhu Bodhi states (from the Theravada point of view):

Alexander Berzin explains (from the Mahayana point of view):

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