Mental Factors

Front 1

Definition of primary mind

Back 1

A primary cognition established by means of its apprehension of the fundamental presence of the object

Front 2

Definition of mental factor

Back 2

A cognition that deals with a specific object apprehended by the primary mind, with which it has five similarities

Front 3

Five similarities of primary mind and mental factors with respect to object

Back 3

Basis - organ upon which two awarenesses depend (ex visual object depends on eye organ)

Duration - simultaneity of time

Aspect - of the object (ex color of a visual object)

Referent - both refer to the same object

Substance - both are either perceptual or conceptual, mistaken or unmistaken

Front 4

Five major categories of mental factors (51 total)

Back 4

1. Ever-present
2. Object ascertaining
3. Variable
4. Constructive
5. Destructive
a. Root delusions
b. Derivative delusions

Front 5

Five ever-present mental factors

Back 5

1. Feeling
2. Discernment
3. Intention
4. Contact
5. Attention

These five accompany every primary mind without exception

Front 6

Five object-ascertaining mental factors

Back 6

1. Aspiration
2. Appreciation
3. Mindfulness (recollection)
4. Meditative concentration
5. Sublime awareness (wisdom, intelligence)

These MFs ascertain the object through discrimination of the various aspects of the object

Front 7

Feeling

Back 7

Ever-present/
Experience of pleasure, displeasure, or neutrality. Experience of results of previous actions. The feeling that arises leads one to react with one of the 3 root delusions (attraction, aversion, confusion)

Front 8

Discernment

Back 8

Ever present/
Differentiates one object from another. Can be found in concepts and perceptions

Front 9

Intention

Back 9

Ever present/
Directs the primary mind and associated mental factors to the object. Actual principle of activity and by extension, KARMA

Front 10

Contact

Back 10

Ever present/
Connects object, organ, and primary mind. Mind and object meet. Organ is activated and becomes basis for experience of pleasure, displeasure or neutrality.

Front 11

Attention

Back 11

Ever present/
Directs primary mind and mental factors to object and actually grasps it. Focuses mind on object and keeps it there. More specific than intention.

Front 12

Aspiration

Back 12

Obj ascer/
Focuses on object and takes a strong interest in it

Front 13

Appreciation

Back 13

Obj ascer/
Occurs when obj's qualities are seen to be of value, stabilizes the mind that "appreciates" the object and does not allow it to wander or be distracted.

Front 14

Mindfulness

Back 14

Obj ascer/
Brings mind back to object again and again, without allowing forgetfulness or wandering

Front 15

Meditative concentration

Back 15

Obj ascer/
Ability to remain single-pointedly on a single specific object for a sustained period of time

Front 16

Sublime awareness

Back 16

Obj ascer/
Mind of super-fine sharpness and refined ability to discriminate, to examine and understand whatever it wishes to illuminate

Front 17

Four variable mental factors

Back 17

1. Sleep
2. Regret
3. General examination
4. Precise analysis

Front 18

Sleep

Back 18

Variable/
Makes the mind dull and lacking in clarity; draws senses inward and mind loses awareness of the body.

Front 19

Regret

Back 19

Variable/
Gives rise to unhappiness with regard to past actions. Constructive regret is due to past misdeeds, destructive regret due to positive actions

Front 20

General examination

Back 20

Variable/
Roughly investigates a designated object. Based on intention or sublime awareness

Front 21

Precise analysis

Back 21

Variable/
Looks at obj in depth; differs from general examination in terms of degree of precision

Front 22

Three root delusions

Back 22

1. Attraction (attachment)
2. Aversion (anger)
3. Confusion (ignorance)

Front 23

Attraction

Back 23

MF that overestimates the pleasant qualities of an object and as a result begins to take an immoderate interest in it.

Front 24

Aversion

Back 24

Inability to tolerate the object, situation, or person or seeks to harm the source of displeasure.

Front 25

Confusion

Back 25

Confusion that results from fundamental ignorance with regard to the true nature of reality. A mind that obscures.

Front 26

Three derivative delusions from attraction

Back 26

1. avarice - clinging to one's possessions, not withing to share them
2. Self-satisfaction - false sense of superiority from a pleasurable feeling regarding one's own good fortune
3. excitement - distracted mind, unable to focus on a virtuous obj because of the force of attachment

Front 27

Five derivative delusions from aversion

Back 27

1. Wrath - wish to cause harm, from increasing anger
2. Vengeance - wish for revenge from strongly holding on to past harm
3. Spite - intention to use harsh speech against someone
4. Envy - Attachment to respect and possessions - intolerance of what others have
5. Cruelty - Wish to denigrate and slight others arising from malice

Front 28

Six derivative delusions from confusion

Back 28

1. Concealment - wish to hide one's negative qualities esp from someone who points out our fault with good intentions
2. Dullness - dark, listless mind
3. Faithlessness - opposite of faith, lack of belief and respect for things that are valid, ex karma
4. Laziness - when strongly holding onto obj of attachment, one loses the wish to engage in constructive activities
5. Forgetfulness - opposite of mindfulness; distracting mind from constructive activity or virtuous object, leading instead to destructive or disturbing one
6. inattention - lack of awareness of one's own body, speech, and mind, leading to a state of carelessness in actions, words, and thoughts

Front 29

Two derivative delusions from attraction and confusion

Back 29

1. Pretension - From attachment to respect and prosperity, inventing an admirable quality about oneself and seeks to make it apparent to others
2. Dishonesty - confuses others by hiding one's faults, due to attachment to respect and prosperity

Front 30

Four derivative delusions from all three root delusions

Back 30

1. shamelessness - without conscience or care for Dharma, one does not try to avoid destructive activities and thoughts
2. lack of consideration - with disregard for others or one's spiritual tradition, one behaves in a careless or destructive way
3. lack of conscientiousness - out of laziness, one is out of control and does not guard against non-virtue or practice virtue
4. distraction - unable to maintain attention on a constructive task or object, mind becomes scattered latching on to many different objects

Front 31

Faith

Back 31

constructive/
Joyful state of mind when we consider the Buddha and his teachings. Not like blind faith. A joy from intelligently engaging with teachings, generating certainty regarding their validity

Front 32

Self-respect

Back 32

Constructive/
Conscience that holds us back from destructive behavior. Basis for ethical actions.

Front 33

Consideration

Back 33

Constructive/
Restrains us from destructive actions because of our concern for others. Regard for effect of our actions on others.

Front 34

Detachment

Back 34

constructive/
Ability to step back from an obj of attachment and acts as an antidote

Front 35

Non-hatred

Back 35

constructive/
Antidote to hatred; loving-kindness directed at specific objects.

Front 36

Non-confusion

Back 36

constructive/
Antidote to confusion and ignorance; from listening, reflection, and meditation. also can arise from predisposition to intelligence and wisdom. Ability to clear away darkness of confusion.

Front 37

Enthusiasm

Back 37

constructive/
Remedy for laziness and procrastination; joyful diligence regarding virtuous activity. Essential for making progress.

Front 38

Suppleness

Back 38

constructive/
Counteracts physical and mental rigidity; allows mind to fully engage with virtuous activities. Basis for meditations that lead to meditative concentration and sublime awareness.

Front 39

Conscientiousness

Back 39

constructive/
Loves whatever is virtuous and protects the mind from delusions and destructive actions

Front 40

Equanimity

Back 40

constructive/
Antidote to mental dullness and excitement, allowing the mind to settle and remain focused on a virtuous object.

Front 41

Non-violence

Back 41

Constructive/
Free from any inclination to harm others. Compassion