@Cutie_Angel_Mukta 1 October 2020

How the mind functions

According to **Theravada Buddhism**, there are 52 important mental factors as listed below, that help to understand how the mind functions. (although, this list is not exhaustive). **Seven universal mental factors**: Common to all consciousness. These factors perform the most rudimentary and essential cognitive functions, without which consciousness of an object would be utterly impossible. The factors are: Phassa - contact Vedana - feeling Sanna - perception Cetana - volition Ekaggata - one-pointedness Jivitindriya - life faculty Manasikara - attention. **Six occasional or particular mental factors**: Ethically variable mental factors found only in certain consciousnesses. They are: Vitakka - Application of thought Vicara - Examining Adhimokkha - Decision Viriya - Energy Piti - Rapture Chanda - Desire (to act). **Fourteen unwholesome mental factors**: Accompany the unwholesome consciousnesses. These 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)*****:** Lobha - greed Ditthi - wrong view Mana - conceit ***Four mental factors of the hatred-group (dosa)*** Dosa - hatred Issa - envy Macchariya - miserliness Kukkucca - regret ***Other unwholesome mental factors*** Thina - sloth Middha - torpor Vicikiccha - doubt. Unwholesome consciousness is consciousness accompanied by one or another of the three unwholesome roots—greed, hatred, and delusion. Such consciousness is called unwholesome because it is mentally unhealthy, morally blameworthy, and productive of painful results. **Twenty-five beautiful mental factors**: Accompany the wholesome consciousnesses. They are: ***Nineteen universal beautiful mental factors:*** Saddha - faith Sati - mindfulness Hiri - shame at doing evil Ottappa - regard for consequence Alobha - lack of greed Adosa - lack of hatred Tatramajjhattata - balance, the neutrality of mind Kayapassaddhi - tranquillity of mental body Cittapassaddhi - tranquillity of consciousness Kayalahuta - lightness of mental body Cittalahuta - lightness of consciousness Kayamuduta - malleability/softness of mental body Cittamuduta - malleability/softness of consciousness Kayakammannata - wieldiness of the mental body Cittakammannata - wieldiness of consciousness Kayapagunnata - proficiency of mental body Cittapagunnata - proficiency of consciousness Kayujukata - straightness/rectitude of mental body Cittujukata - straightness/rectitude of consciousness. ***Three Abstinences (virati):*** Sammavaca - right speech Sammakammanta - right action Samma-ajiva - right livelihood ***Two Immeasurables (appamanna):*** Karuna - compassion Mudita - sympathetic joy ***One Faculty of wisdom (pannindriya):*** Panna - wisdom. Wholesome consciousness is consciousness accompanied by the wholesome roots—non-greed or generosity, non-hatred or loving-kindness, and non-delusion or wisdom. Such consciousness is mentally healthy, morally blameless, and productive of pleasant results.