Mental factors (Buddhism)
| Translations of Mental factors |
|
|---|---|
| English | mental factors mental events mental states |
| Pali | cetasika |
| Sanskrit | caitasika, caitika, caitta |
| Chinese | 心所 (T) / 心所 (S) 心所法 (T) / 心所法 (S) |
| Japanese |
心所 (rōmaji: shinjo) |
| Korean |
심소, 심소법, 마음작용 (RR: simso, simsobeob, maeumjakyong) |
| Tibetan |
སེམས་བྱུང་ (Wylie: sems byung; THL: semjung) |
| Glossary of Buddhism | |
Mental factors (Sanskrit: caitasika; Pali: cetasika; Tibetan Wylie: sems byung), in Buddhism, are identified within the teachings of the Abhidharma (Buddhist psychology). They are defined as aspects of the mind that apprehend the quality of an object, and that have the ability to color the mind. Within the Abhidharma, the mental factors are categorized as formations (Sanskrit: saṅkhāra) concurrent with mind (Sanskrit: citta). Alternate translations for mental factors include "mental states", "mental events", and "concomitants of consciousness".
Mental factors are aspects of the mind that apprehend the quality of an object and have the ability to color the mind. Geshe Tashi Tsering explains:
The relationship between the main mind (Sanskrit: citta) and the mental factors can be described by the following metaphors:
Traleg Rinpoche states that the main distinction between the mind and mental factors is that the mind apprehends an object as a whole, whereas mental factors apprehend an object in its particulars.
Within Buddhism, there are many different systems of abhidharma (commonly referred to as Buddhist psychology), and each system contains its own list of the most significant mental factors. These lists vary from system to system both in the number of mental factors listed, and in the definitions that are given for each mental factor. These lists are not considered to be exhaustive; rather they present significant categories and mental factors that are useful to study in order to understand how the mind functions.
Some of the main commentaries on the Abhidharma systems that are studied today include:
In Mahavibhasa and Abhidharma-kosa, 46 mental factors have been listed as below:
The ten mahā-bhūmika are common to all consciousness.
The ten kuśala-mahā-bhūmikādharmāḥ accompany the wholesome consciousnesses (kusala citta).
These six one would accompany with kleśa.
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