Overview
In Theravāda Abhidhamma, consciousness (citta) never arises alone; it is always colored and shaped by associated Mental Factors (Cetasikas). These factors are the actual workers of the mind, representing feeling, perception, and all volitional formations. The Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha standardizes these into 52 distinct elements.
The List
The 13 Ethically Variable Factors (Aññasamānā):
- 7 Universals (arise in every single consciousness): Contact, Feeling, Perception, Volition, One-pointedness, Life-faculty, Attention.
- 6 Occasionals (arise only in certain consciousnesses): Application of thought, Sustained thought, Decision, Energy, Joy, Desire to act.
The 14 Unwholesome Factors (Akusalā):
- 4 Universal Unwholesomes: Delusion, Shamelessness, Fearlessness of wrongdoing, Restlessness.
- 3 Greed-group: Greed, Wrong view, Conceit.
- 4 Hate-group: Hatred, Envy, Stinginess, Worry.
- 3 Others: Sloth, Torpor, Doubt.
The 25 Beautiful Factors (Sobhanā):
- 19 Universal Beautifuls: Faith, Mindfulness, Moral shame, Moral dread, Non-greed, Non-hatred, Equanimity, plus 12 factors relating to the tranquility, lightness, pliancy, wieldiness, proficiency, and rectitude of the mental body and consciousness.
- 3 Abstinences: Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood.
- 2 Illimitables: Compassion, Sympathetic Joy.
- 1 Wisdom: The faculty of wisdom (Non-delusion).
Textual References
- Commentary: Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha (Chapter II) – The definitive manual detailing every single one of these 52 factors, their characteristics, and exactly which types of consciousness they associate with.