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The 51 Mental factors of your mind
by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
from ‘Joyful path of good fortune’ (the complete Buddhist path to enlightenment)
The 51 mental factors in groups:
1 5 all-accompanying mental factors
2 5 object-ascertaining mental factors
3 11 virtuous mental factors
4 6 root delusions
5 20 secondary delusions
6 4 changeable factors
The 5 all-accompanying mental factors:
1 Feeling is a mental factor that functions to experience pleasant, unpleasant or neural objects. (2 x 2 types & 3 types)
2 Discrimination is a mental factor that functions to apprehend the uncommon sign of an object. (6 types & 2 x 2 types)
3 Intention is a mental factor that functions to move its primary mind to the object. (2 x 3 types)
4 Contact is a mental factor that functions to perceive its object. (6 types)
5 Attention is a mental factor that functions to focus the mind on a particular attribute of an object. ( 2 x 2 types)
The 5 object-ascertaining mental factors:
1 Aspiration is a mental factor that focuses on a desired object & takes an interest in it. (4 types & 2 types)
2 Firm apprehension is a mental factor that makes its primary mind apprehend its object firmly. (realisations) (2 types)
3 Mindfulness is a mental factor that functions not to forget the object realized by the primary mind. (2 x 2 types)
4 Concentration is a mental factor that makes its primary mind remain on its object single-pointedly. (2 x 9 & 2 x 2 types)
5 Wisdom is a virtuous, intelligent mind that makes its primary mind realise its object thoroughly. (3 & 7 types).
The 11 virtuous mental factors:
1 Faith is a mental factor that functions principally to eliminate non-faith.
(3 types)
2 Sense of shame is a mental factor that functions to avoid inappropriate actions for reasons that concern oneself. (3 types)
3 Consideration is a mental factor that functions to avoid inappropriate actions for reasons that concern others. (3 types)
4 Non-attachment is a mental factor that functions as the direct opponent of
attachment.(2 x 3 types)
5 Non-hatred is a mental factor that functions as the direct opponent of hatred. (3 types)
6 Non-ignorance is a mental factor that functions as a direct opponent of
ignorance. (4 types)
7 Effort is a mental factor that makes its primary mind delight in virtue. (5 types)
8 Mental suppleness is a flexibility of mind induced by virtuous concentration. (2 types)
9 Conscientiousness is a mental factor that, in dependence upon effort, cherishes what is virtuous & guards the mind from delusion & non-virtue. (2 types)
10 Equanimity is a mental factor that functions to keep the primary mind free from mental sinking & mental excitement. (3 types)
11 Non-harmfulness is a mental factor that wishes sentient beings not to suffer. (2 x 2 types)
The 6 root delusions:
1 Desirous attachment is a deluded mental factor that observes its contaminated object, regards it as a cause of happiness, & wishes for it.(3 x 3 types)
2Anger is a deluded mental factor that observes its contaminated object, exaggerates its bad qualities, considers it to be undesirable & wishes to harm it. (9 types)
3 Deluded pride is a deluded mental factor that, through considering & exaggerating one’s own good qualities or possessions, feels arrogant.(7 types)
4 Ignorance is a deluded mental factor that is confused about the nature of an object & that functions to induce wrong awareness, doubt & other delusions. (2 types)
5 Deluded doubt is a two-pointedness of mind that interferes with the attainment of liberation or enlightenment. (3 types)
6 Deluded view is a view that functions to obstruct the attainment of liberation. (5 types).
The 20 secondary delusions:
1 Aggression is an increase of the root delusion anger that wishes to hurt or harm others physically or verbally.
2 Resentment is a mental factor that maintains the continuum of anger without forgetting it, & wishes to retaliate.
3 Spite is a mental factor that, motivated by resentment or aggression, wishes to
speak harshly.
4 Jealousy is a deluded mental factor that feels displeasure when observing others’ enjoyments, good qualities or good fortune.
5 Miserliness is a deluded mental factor that motivated by desirous attachment, holds onto things tightly & does not want to part with them.
6 Concealment is a deluded mental factor that motivated by attachment to wealth or reputation, wishes to conceal our faults from others.
7 Pretension is a deluded mental factor that, motivated by attachment to wealth or reputation, wishes to pretend that we possess qualities that we do not possess.
8 Denial is a deluded mental factor that does not wish to purify non-virtuous actions that we have committed or downfalls that we have incurred.
9 Self-satisfaction is a deluded mental factor that observes our own physical beauty, wealth or other good qualities & being only concerned with these, has no interest in spiritual development. (5 types)
10 Harmfulness is a deluded mental factor that wishes other sentient beings to suffer.
11 Shamelessness is a deluded mental factor that is the opposite of sense of shame.
12 Inconsideration is a deluded mental factor that is opposite of consideration.
13 Dullness is a deluded mental factor that that functions to make both the body & mind heavy & inflexible.
14 Distraction is a deluded mental factor that wanders to any object of delusion.
15 Mental excitement is a deluded mental factor that that wanders to any object of attachment.
16 Non-faith is a deluded mental factor that is opposite to faith.
17 Laziness is a deluded mental factor that, motivated by attachment to worldly pleasures or worldly activities, dislikes virtuous activity.
18 Non-conscientiousness is a deluded mental factor that wishes to engage in non-virtuous actions without restraint.
19 Deluded-forgetfulness is a deluded mental factor that makes us forget a virtuous object.
20 Non-alertness is a deluded mental factor that, being unable to distinguish faults from non-faults, causes us to develop faults.
The 4 changeable mental factors:
1 Sleep is a mental factor that is developed through dullness or its imprints & that functions to gather the sense awareness inwards.
2 Regret is a mental factor that feels remorse for actions done in the past.
3 Investigation is a mental factor that examines an object to gain an understanding of its gross nature.
4 Analysis is a mental factor that examines an object to gain an understanding of its subtle nature.
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