Mental factors ( or chitta samskara ; ; Tibetan: སེམས་བྱུང sems byung), in Buddhism, are identified within the teachings of the Abhidhamma (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 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 Tibetan for mental factors, semlay jungwa chö (Skt. chaitasika dharma), means phenomena arising from the mind, suggesting that the mental factors are not primary to the mind but arise within a larger framework. A mental factor, again, is defined as the aspect of the mind that apprehends a particular quality of an object. Because it is characterized by the qualities of activity and non-neutrality, it has the ability to color the mind in dependence on the way it manifests. Hence, a feeling of desire from seeing what is conceived as a beautiful object affects the other mental factors that are present at that time, and this colors the whole mind.
The relationship between the main mind (Sanskrit: citta) 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 (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: 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. Abhidharmakośa by Vasubandhu – a Sarvastivada commentary (studied by the Mahayana schools) that lists forty-two mental factors. Abhidharma-samuccaya by Asanga – a Yogachara commentary (studied by the Mahayana schools) that lists fifty-one mental factors. Innermost Core of Topics of Knowledge (mDzod-phug) by Shenrab Miwo – a Tibetan Bon commentary that lists fifty-one factors.
Sthaviravāda Sarvastivada 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 – feeling Saṃjñā – perception Cetanā – volition Sparśa – contact Chanda – desire (to act) Prajñā – wisdom Smṛti – mindfulness Manasikāra – attention Adhimokṣa – decision Samādhi – mental concentration. it also called Ekaggata, one-pointedness
Ten factors arising with every good mind (kuśalamahābhūmikā) Śraddhā – faith Vīrya – energy Hrī – shame at doing evil Apatrāpya – decorum, regard for consequence Alobha – non-attachment Adveṣa – non-aggression Praśrabdhi – calmness Upekṣā – equanimity Appamāda – conscientiousness Ahiṃsā – non-injuriousness
Six factors arising with every defiled mind (kleśamahābhūmika) Moha – delusion Pramāda – heedlessness, carelessness, unconcern Kauśīdya – laziness, slothfulness Āśraddhya – lack of faith, lack of trust Styāna – lethargy, gloominess Auddhatya – excitement, ebullience
Two factors arising with every bad mind (akusalamahābhūmika) Āhrīkya - shamelessness Anapatrapya - disregard
Ten factors arising with defiled mind to a limited extent (parittaklesabhūmika) Krodha - anger Mrakśa - hypocrisy Mātsarya - selfishness Īrṣyā - envy Pradāśa - spite Vihiṃsā - violence Upanāha - vengefulness Śāṭhya - craftiness Māyā - deceit Mada - pride