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Grammatical Analysis

Cetasika: [nt.; adj.] mental factor; mental concomitant; associated state. Formed from cetas (mind) + suffix ika (belonging to, connected with). Meaning: that which is inherently bound to and arises with consciousness.

Orthodox Definition

In the Abhidhamma, Cetasikas constitute one of the four ultimate realities (paramattha). They are the specific psychological factors that arise simultaneously with a moment of consciousness (citta), coloring it, assisting it, and executing specific functions regarding the object.

Consciousness (citta) is merely the bare awareness of an object, like clear water. The cetasikas are the dyes, flavors, and energetic forces—like greed, wisdom, feeling, or intention—mixed into that water.

The orthodox tradition maps exactly 52 Cetasikas, divided into three major categories:

  1. Aññasamāna (13 Ethically Variable Factors): 7 Universals (like contact, feeling, volition) and 6 Occasionals (like applied thought, energy, rapture). They adapt to the ethics of whatever mind they accompany.
  2. Akusala (14 Unwholesome Factors): e.g., Delusion, Greed, Hatred, Restlessness.
  3. Sobhana (25 Beautiful Factors): e.g., Faith, Mindfulness, Non-greed, Wisdom, Compassion.

Quote

Sampayogalakkhaṇavaṇṇanā
Description of the Characteristic of Concomitance.

Evaṃ tāva cittaṃ bhūmijātisampayogasaṅkhārajhānārammaṇamaggabhedena yathārahaṃ vibhajitvā idāni cetasikavibhāgassa anuppattattā paṭhamaṃ tāva catubbidhasampayogalakkhaṇasandassanavasena cetasikalakkhaṇaṃ ṭhapetvā, tadanantaraṃ aññasamānaakusalasobhanavasena tīhi rāsīhi cetasikadhamme uddisitvā, tesaṃ soḷasahākārehi sampayogaṃ, tettiṃsavidhena saṅgahañca dassetuṃ ‘‘ekuppādanirodhā cā’’tyādi āraddhaṃ.
Thus, having first analyzed consciousness according to its divisions of planes, classes, association, formations, jhāna, object, and path as appropriate, and now that the division of cetasikas has arrived, first, in order to set forth the characteristics of cetasikas by displaying the four kinds of characteristics of association, and then, by enumerating the cetasika-dharmas into three groups—aññasamāna, akusala, and sobhana—and to show their association in sixteen ways and their compilation in thirty-three ways, the section beginning with ‘ekuppādanirodhā ca’ has been commenced.

— Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha (2. Description of the Cetasika Chapter)

Textual References

  • Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī – The absolute foundational text providing the granular definitions and categorizations of every single mental factor.
  • Textual: Abhidhammattha-saṅgaha (Chapter II) – Ācariya Anuruddha’s definitive manual mapping exactly which cetasikas combine with which cittas.
  • Commentary: Atthasālinī – The exhaustive exegesis explaining the synchronous arising, ceasing, and object-sharing properties of these concomitants.

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