Mental factors (Buddhism)
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 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. 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: Sthaviravāda Sarvastivada tradition. The Mahavibhasa and Abhidharmakośa have 46 mental factors which include: Ten mental factors. The ten "mahābhūmika dharmas" are common to all consciousness. Ten wholesome mental factors. The ten "kuśala mahābhūmikā dharmāḥ" accompany the wholesome consciousnesses (kusala citta). Six unwholesome mental factors. The six  kleśa mahābhūmika dharmāḥ accompany kleśa. Theravāda Abhidhamma tradition. Within the Theravāda Abhidhamma tradition, the Abhidhammattha-sangaha enumerates the fifty-two mental factors listed below: Note that this list is not exhaustive; there are other mental factors mentioned in the Theravada teachings. This list identifies fifty-two important factors that help to understand how the mind functions. Seven universal mental factors. The seven universal mental factors ("sabbacittasādhāraṇa cetasikas") are common ("sādhāraṇa") to all consciousness ("sabbacitta"). 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: Six occasional mental factors. The six occasional or particular mental factors ("pakiṇṇaka cetasikas") are ethically variable mental factors found only in certain consciousnesses. They are: Fourteen unwholesome mental factors. The unwholesome mental factors ("akusala cetasikas") accompany the unwholesome consciousnesses ("akusala citta"). The fourteen unwholesome mental factors are: Bhikkhu Bodhi states: Twenty-five beautiful mental factors. The beautiful mental factors ("sobhana cetasikas") accompany the wholesome consciousnesses ("kusala citta"). The twenty-five beautiful mental factors ("sobhana cetasikas") are: Bhikkhu Bodhi states: Mahayana 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 ("sarvatraga") are: 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: Five object-determining mental factors. The five object-determining mental factors ("viṣayaniyata") are: 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 ("kuśala") mental factors are: Six root unwholesome factors. The six root unwholesome factors ("mūlakleśa") are: Twenty secondary unwholesome factors. The twenty secondary unwholesome factors ("upakleśa") are: Four changeable mental factors. The four changeable mental factors ("aniyata") are: Alternate translations. Alternate translations for the term "mental factors" (Sanskrit: "caitasika") include: External links. Mahayana mental factors: Theravada mental factors: Theravada Abhidharma: Definitions for "caitikas" or "cetisakas"