Mental factors (Buddhism)

Mental factors, in Buddhism, are identified within the teachings of the Abhidhamma. 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 Abhidhamma, the mental factors are categorized as formations concurrent with mind. Alternate translations for mental factors include "mental states", "mental events", and "concomitants of consciousness".

Introduction

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 and the mental factors can be described by the following metaphors:

The main mind is like screen in a cinema, and the mental factors are like the images projected on the screen. In this analogy, we typically do not notice the screen because we are so caught up on the images.
The main mind is like a king who sits passively on a throne, and the mental factors are like the king's busy ministers.

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.

Lists of mental factors

Within Buddhism, there are many different systems of abhidharma, 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.
Some of the main commentaries on the Abhidharma systems that are studied today include:

Theravāda:
* Abhidhammattha-sangaha by Acariya Anuruddha – a Theravada commentary that lists fifty-two mental factors.
* Atthasālinī by Buddhaghosa – a Theravada commentary that provides explanations for fifty-two mental factors.
Mahāyāna:
* Abhidharma-samuccaya by Asanga – a Yogachara commentary that lists fifty-one mental factors.
* Innermost Core of Topics of Knowledge by Shenrab Miwo – a Tibetan Bon commentary that lists fifty-one factors.
Sarvāstivāda:
* Abhidharmakośa by Vasubandhu – a Sarvastivada commentary that lists forty-two mental factors.

Sthaviravāda Abhidharma tradition

The number of mental factors varies in different Sarvastivada works.
The Abhidharmakośa lists 42 mental factors which include:

Ten factors arising with every mind (mahābhūmika)

Vedanā – feelingSaṃjñā – perceptionCetanā – volitionSparśa – contact Chanda – desire Prajñā – wisdomSmṛti – mindfulnessManasikāra – attentionAdhimokṣa – decisionSamādhi – mental concentration

Ten factors arising with every good mind (kuśalamahābhūmikā)

Śraddhā – reasoned trustVīrya – energyHrī – shame at doing evilApatrāpya – decorum, regard for consequenceAlobha – non-attachmentAdveṣa – non-aggressionPraśrabdhi – calmnessUpekṣā – equanimityAppamāda – conscientiousnessAhiṃsā – non-injuriousness

Six factors arising with every defiled mind (kleśamahābhūmika)

Moha – delusionPramāda – heedlessness, carelessness, unconcernKauśīdya – laziness, slothfulnessĀśraddhya – lack of reasoned trustStyāna – lethargy, gloominessAuddhatya – excitement, ebullience

Two factors arising with every bad mind (akusalamahābhūmika)

Āhrīkya - shamelessnessAnapatrapya - disregard

Ten factors arising with defiled mind to a limited extent (parittaklesabhūmika)

Krodha - angerMrakśa - hypocrisyMātsarya - selfishnessĪrṣyā - envyPradāśa - spiteVihiṃsā - violenceUpanāha - vengefulnessŚāṭhya - deceptionMāyā - deceitMada - pride

Four indeterminate factors (aniyatabhūmika)

These factors can be associated with good, bad or neutral mind.Kaukritya - regretMiddha - sleepinessVitarka - initial thoughtVicāra - sustained thought

Theravāda Abhidhamma tradition

Within the Theravāda Abhidhamma tradition, the Abhidhammattha-sangaha enumerates the fifty-two mental factors listed below:

Seven universal mental factors

The seven universal mental factors are common to all consciousness. Bhikkhu Bodhi states: "These factors perform the most rudimentary and essential cognitive functions, without which consciousness of an object would be utterly impossible."
These seven factors are:Phassa – contact Vedanā – feelingSaññā – perceptionCetanā – volitionEkaggata – one-pointedness Jīvitindriya – life facultyManasikāra – attention

Six occasional mental factors

The six occasional or particular mental factors are ethically variable mental factors found only in certain consciousnesses. They are:Vitakka – Application of thoughtVicāra – ExaminingAdhimokkha – DecisionViriya – EnergyPīti – RaptureChanda – Desire

Fourteen unwholesome mental factors

The unwholesome mental factors accompany the unwholesome consciousnesses.
The fourteen unwholesome mental factors are:

Four universal unwholesome mental factors :
* Moha – delusion
* Ahirika – lack of shame
* Anottappa – disregard for consequence
* Uddhacca – restlessness
Three mental factors of the greed-group :
* Lobha – greed
* Micchādiṭṭhi – wrong view
* Māna – conceit
Four mental factors of the hatred-group
* Dosa – hatred
* Issā – envy
* Macchariya – miserliness
* Kukkucca – regret
Other unwholesome mental factors
* Thīna – sloth
* Middha – torpor
* Vicikicchā – doubt

Bhikkhu Bodhi states:

Twenty-five beautiful mental factors

The beautiful mental factors accompany the wholesome consciousnesses.
The twenty-five beautiful mental factors are:

Nineteen universal beautiful mental factors :
* Saddhā – reasoned trust
* Sati – mindfulness
* Hiri – shame at doing evil
* Ottappa – regard for consequence
* Alobha – lack of greed
* Adosa – lack of hatred
** Mettā – loving kindness
* Tatramajjhattatā – balance, neutrality of mind
* Kāyapassaddhi – tranquility of mental body
* Cittapassaddhi – tranquility of consciousness
* Kāyalahutā – lightness of mental body
* Cittalahutā – lightness of consciousness
* Kāyamudutā – malleability/softness of mental body
* Cittamudutā – malleability/softness of consciousness
* Kāyakammaññatā – wieldiness of mental body
* Cittakammaññatā – wieldiness of consciousness
* Kāyapāguññatā – proficiency of mental body
* Cittapāguññatā – proficiency of consciousness
* Kāyujukatā – straightness/rectitude of mental body
* Cittujukatā – straightness/rectitude of consciousness
Three Abstinences :
* Sammāvācā – right speech
* Sammākammanta – right action
* Sammā-ājīva – right livelihood
Two Immeasurables :
* Karuṇā – compassion
* Mudita – sympathetic joy
One Faculty of wisdom :
* Paññā – wisdom

Bhikkhu Bodhi states:

Mahāyāna Abhidharma tradition

Abhidharma studies in the Mahayana tradition are based on the Sanskrit Sarvāstivāda abhidharma system. Within this system, the Abhidharma-samuccaya identifies fifty-one mental factors:

Five universal mental factors

The five universal mental factors are:

Sparśa – contact, contacting awareness, sense impression, touch
Vedanā – feeling, sensation
Saṃjñā – perception
Cetanā – volition, intention
Manasikāra – attention

These five mental factors are referred to as universal or omnipresent because they operate in the wake of every mind situation. If any one of these factors is missing, then the experience of the object is incomplete. For example:

If there is no sparśa, then there would be no basis for perception.
If there is no vedana, there is no relishing of the object.
If there is no saṃjñā, then the specific characteristic of the object is not perceived.
If there is no cetanā, then there is no movement towards and settling on the object.
If there is no manasikāra, then there is not holding onto the object.

Five object-determining mental factors

The five object-determining mental factors are:

Chanda – desire, intention, interest
Adhimokṣa – decision, interest, firm conviction
Smṛti – mindfulness
Prajñā – wisdom
Samādhi – concentration

The five factors are referred to as object-determining is because these factors each grasp the specification of the object. When they are steady, there is certainty concerning each object.

Eleven virtuous mental factors

The eleven virtuous mental factors are:

Sraddhā – faith
Hrī – self-respect, conscientiousness, sense of shame
Apatrāpya – decorum, regard for consequence
Alobha – non-attachment
Adveṣa – non-aggression, equanimity, lack of hatred
Amoha – non-bewilderment
Vīrya – diligence, effort
Praśrabdhi – pliancy, mental-flexibility
Apramāda – conscientiousness
Upekṣa – equanimity
Ahiṃsā – nonharmfulness, nonviolence

Six root unwholesome factors

The six root unwholesome factors are:

Rāga – attachment
Pratigha – anger
Avidya – ignorance
Māna – pride, conceit
Vicikitsa – doubt
Dṛṣṭi – wrong view

Twenty secondary unwholesome factors

The twenty secondary unwholesome factors are:

Krodha – rage, fury
Upanāha – resentment
Mrakśa – concealment, slyness-concealment
Pradāśa – spitefulness
Īrṣyā – envy, jealousy
Mātsarya – stinginess, avarice, miserliness
Māyā – pretense, deceit
Śāṭhya – hypocrisy, dishonesty
Mada – self-infatuation, mental inflation, self-satisfaction
Vihiṃsā – malice, hostility, cruelty, intention to harm
Āhrīkya – lack of shame, lack of conscience, shamelessness
Anapatrāpya – lack of propriety, disregard, shamelessness
Styāna – lethargy, gloominess
Auddhatya – excitement, ebullience
Āśraddhya – lack of faith, lack of trust
Kauśīdya – laziness, slothfulness
Pramāda – heedlessness, carelessness, unconcern
Muṣitasmṛtitā – forgetfulness
Asaṃprajanya – non-alertness, inattentiveness
Vikṣepa – distraction, desultoriness

Four changeable mental factors

The four changeable mental factors are:

Kaukṛitya – regret, worry,
Middha – sleep, drowsiness
Vitarka – conception, selectiveness, examination
Vicāra – discernment, discursiveness, analysis

Alternate translations

Alternate translations for the term mental factors include:

Mental factors
Mental events
Mental states
Concomitants
Concomitants of consciousness
Subsidiary awareness