Research on the 51 Mental Events
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The Fifty-One Mental Events an anthology compiled by Lokabandhu from various sources this version printed tt.06.09 Sources used Monier-Williams - Sanskrit Dictionary Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary Nyantiloka - Buddhist Dictionary Shobogenzo glossary Asanga - Abhidharmasamuccaya Yeshe Gyaltsen - Mind in Buddhist Psychology, translated by Guenther Bhante - Know Your Mind and other books Geshe Rabten - ‘Mind and its Functions’ Hsuen Tsang - Doctrine of Mere-Consciousness Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Understanding the Mind Tarthang Tulku - Ways of Enlightenment Abhidharmakosa - Vasubandhu, translated into French by Louis de La Vallee Poussin, English translation by Leo M. Pugden. Published by Asian Humanities Press Vibhanga - The Book of Analysis, the Second Book of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, translated from the Pali of the Burmese Chatthasangiti Edition by Pathamakyaw Ashin Thittila Dhammasangini - A Buddhist Manual of Psychological Ethics, the First Book in the Abhidhamma Pitaka, trans. C.A.F. Rhys Davids. Attasalini, the Expositor. Buddhaghosa's commentary on the Dhammasangani. Translated by Maung Tin, m.a. Edited and revised by C.A.F. Rhys Davids Ledi Sayadaw - Manuals of Buddhism Vasubandhu - Trimsika, translations by Swati Ganguli, Anacker, Wei Tat, Kochumutton, and a free version by Subhuti. With thanks to: Prajnamata, Ashvajit and Chandrabodhi for the Marathi / Hindi equivalents Silabhadra and Kulamitra for permission to use excerpts from Bhante’s seminars Windhorse Publications for permission to use excerpts from Bhante’s books Dharmachandra for research into the Sanskrit roots of words PLEASE NOTE THAT QUOTES TAKEN FROM SANGHARAKSHITA’S SEMINARS ARE UNEDITED AND MAY CONTAIN INACCURACIES Also please note that Subhuti’s comments are from unedited talks and have not been checked by him Introduction Bhante (Know Your Mind): No list of mental events can be exhaustive; nor are the boundary lines between them always fixed. Any classification of them is solely to provide a tool for spiritual practice, allowing one to give provisional labels to one's experience, and thereby enabling oneself to transform one's life. This needs constantly to be borne in mind. As we have seen, the Sarvastivadins number forty-six mental events, while the Theravadins distinguish fifty two; but the Yogacarins, whose classification we will be following here, identify fifty-one different mental events, divided into six categories: five omnipresent mental events; five object-determining mental events; eleven positive mental events; six basic emotions [primary negative mental events]; twenty proximate emotions [secondary negative mental events]; and four variable mental events. The 51 Mental Events - alternative translations vedana wt:sensation a:feeling ga:sensation k:knowledge kg:feeling we:feeling b:feeling,emotion gu:feeling samjna wt:conception a:cognitions ga:thought k:conception kg:discrimination we:perception b:perception; conceptualization, notion gu: recognition/identification cetana wt:volition a:volitions ga:volition k:volition kg:intention we:intention b:will gu:directionality of mind sparsa wt:contact a:contacts ga:touch k:touch kg: contact we:contact b: gu: contact manaskara wt:attention a:mental attentions ga:attention k:attentiveness kg: attention we:attention b: gu:egocentric demanding chanda wt:desire a:zest ga:desire k:desire kg:aspiration we:interest b:eagerness, thrust, urge, desire, impulsion gu: interest adhimoksha wt:resolve a:confidence ga:resolve k:resolve kg:firm apprehension we:determination b: gu:intensified interest which stays with its object smrti wt:memory a:memory ga:memory k:memory kg:mindfulness we:mindfulness b: recollection, mindfulness gu:inspection samadhi wt:meditation a:concentration ga:meditation k:concentration kg:concentration we:concentration b: gu: intense concentration prajna wt:discernment a:insight ga:wisdom k:knowledge kg:wisdom we:discernment b: gu: analytical appreciative discrimination sraddha wt:belief a:faith ga:belief k:faith kg:faith we:faith b: gu: confidence-trust hri wt:sense of shame a:inner shame ga:sense of shame k:sense of shame kg: sense of shame we:self-respect b:shame gu: self-respect/shame apatrapya wt:sense of integrity a:dread of blame ga:sense of integrity k:fear of censure kg: consideration we:propriety b: gu: The 51 Mental Events decorum/respect for wise opinion alobha wt:non-covetousness a:lack of greed ga:non-covetousness k:non-covetousness kg:non-attachment we:non-attachment b: gu: non-attachment advesa wt:non-anger a:lack of hostility ga:non-hatred k:non-hatred kg:non-hatred we:non- aversion b: gu: non-hatred amoha wt:non-delusion a:lack of confusion ga:non-deludedness k:non-deludedness kg:non-ignorance we: b: gu: non-deludedness virya wt:zeal/diligence a:vigour ga:diligence k:courage kg:effort we:effort b: intentness gu: energy in pursuit of the good prasrabdhi wt:composure of mind a:tranquillity ga:composure of mind k:composure kg:mental suppleness we:alert ease b:tension-release, pliancy gu: alertness/tranquillity apramada wt:vigilance a:carefulness ga:vigilance k:alertness kg:conscientiousness we: conscientiousness b:conscientiousness gu: concern/non-heedlessness upeksa wt:equanimity a: ga:equanimity k:equanimity kg:equanimity we:equanimity b: gu: equanimity avihimsa wt:harmlessness/non-injury a:non-harming ga:non-injury k:harmlessness kg:non-harmfulness,/compassion we:non- violence b: gu: non-violence raga wt:covetousness a:attachment ga:covetousness k:passionate attachment kg:desirous attachment we: b: gu:cupidity-attachment pratigha wt:anger a:aversion ga:anger k:grudge kg:anger we: b: gu:anger mana wt:conceit a:pride ga:conceit k:pride kg:deluded pride we: b: gu:arrogance avidya wt:delusion a:confusion ga:delusion k:stupidity kg:ignorance we:confusion b: gu:lack of intrinsic awareness vicikitsa wt:doubt a:doubts ga:doubt k:doubt kg:deluded doubt we: b: gu:indecision drsti wt:false views a:views ga:false views k:[false] views kg: deluded view we: b: gu:opinionatedness krodha wt:fury a:anger ga:fury k:anger kg:aggression we: b: gu: indignation/rage upanaha wt:enmity a:malice ga:enmity k:hatred kg:resentment we: b: gu: resentment mraksa wt:concealment/hypocrisy a:hypocrisy ga:hypocrisy k:hypocrisy kg:concealment we: page 5/ 206 The 51 Mental Events b: gu: slyness-concealment pradasa wt:vexation a:maliciousness ga:vexation k:envy kg:spite we: b: gu: spite defensiveness irsya wt:envy a:envy ga:envy k:jealousy kg:jealousy we: b: gu: jealousy/envy matsarya wt:parsimony a:selfishness ga:parsimony k:spite kg:miserliness we: b: gu: avarice/acquisitiveness maya wt:duplicity/fraudulence a:deceitfulness ga:duplicity k:deceit kg:pretension we: b: gu: deceit/pretence sathya wt:deception a:guile ga:deception k:dishonesty kg:denial we: b: gu: dishonesty mada wt:pride a:mischievous exuberance ga:pride k:arrogance kg:self-satisfaction we: b: gu: mental inflation/self-intoxication vihimsa wt:harmfulness a:desire to harm ga:harmfulness k:harmfulness kg:harmfulness we: b: gu: malice ahrikya wt:shamelessness a:lack of shame ga:shamelessness k:shamelessness kg:shamelessness we: disrespect b: gu: shamelessness anapatrapya wt:non-integrity a:lack of dread of blame ga:non-integrity k:defiance of censure kg:inconsideration we: absense of propriety b: gu: lack of sense of propriety styana wt:torpid-mindedness a:fogginess ga:conceit k:sluggishness kg:dullness we: b: gu: gloominess/stagnation auddhatya wt:agitation/restlessness a:excitedness ga:restlessness k:conceit kg:mental excitement we: restlessness b: gu: ebullience asraddhya wt:unbelief a:lack of faith ga:unbelief k:unbelief kg:non-faith we:faithlessness b: gu: lack of trust/non-faith kausidya wt:indolence a:sloth ga:indolence k:indolence kg:laziness we:laziness b: gu: laziness pramada wt:idleness a:carelessness ga:carelessness k:carelessness kg:non-conscientiousness we: b: gu: unconcern/heedlessness musitasmrtita wt:forgetfulness a:loss of mindfulness ga:forgetfulness k:bad memory kg:deluded forgetfulness we: b: gu: forgetfulness/unrecollectedness/unmindfulness asamprajanya wt:non-discernment/thoughtlessness a:lack of recognition ga:thoughtlessness k:thoughtlessness kg:non-alertness we:non-conscientiousness b: gu: inattentiveness/purposelessness viksepa wt:distraction a:distractedness ga:distraction k:distraction of mind kg:non-alertness we: b: gu: desultoriness/distraction page 6/ 206 The 51 Mental Events middha wt:drowsiness a:torpor ga:drowsiness k:sleepiness kg:sleep we:torpor b: gu: drowsiness/torpor kaukrtya wt:remorse a:regret ga:remorse k:remorse kg:regret we: b: gu: worry vitarka wt:reflection a:initial mental application ga:reasoning k:reasoning kg:investigation we: b: thinking of/ initial thought gu: selectiveness/initial application of mind vicara wt:investigation a:subsequent discursive thought ga:deliberation k:deliberation kg:analysis we: b: thinking about/ sustained thought gu: discursiveness/sustained application of mind page 7/ 206 The 51 Mental Events Summary of other languages Vedana feeling p:vedana h:vedana m:vedana t:tshor-ba Samjna identification p:sanna h:samgya m:samdnya t:’du-shes Cetana will p:cetana h:chetana m:chetana t:sems-pa Sparsa contact p:phassa h:sparsha m:sparsha t:reg-pa Manaskara attention p:manasikara h:bar bar vishaya ki/jhukana t:yid la byed-pa m:punhapunha vishayakade valane Chanda interest p:chanda h:ruchi m:ruchi, avad/chanda. t:’dun-pa Adhimoksha intensified interest p:adimokkha h:vishaya ki/jhukane ki tamanna t:mos-pa m:vishayakade valanyachi utsukata/. Smrti recollection p:sati h:smriti m:smriti