A Brief Analysis of the Universal Mental Factors and Particular Mental Factors of the Sixth and Seventh Consciousnesses

The five universal mental factors (caittas) initially operate in a certain sequence, but once their operation reaches a certain stage, the order of their operation changes. No matter how it changes, it always ends with the deliberation (manasikāra) mental factor. Then the five universal mental factors operate again upon other dharmas.

As for the five particular mental factors, there is no fixed order of operation, and the five mental factors do not necessarily all appear simultaneously or in sequence—perhaps one appears, perhaps two; this is not certain. The higher a person's wisdom, the more frequently and extensively the five particular mental factors manifest. For bodhisattvas who have transformed consciousness into wisdom, the five particular mental factors manifest constantly, with a very high frequency of activity.

The more ignorant sentient beings are, the less easily the five particular mental factors appear and operate. For bhūmi bodhisattvas who have subdued their afflictions and transformed consciousness into wisdom, the five particular mental factors of the manas are very active and appear frequently; the manas's wisdom and power of determination (adhimokṣa) are quite strong. Therefore, when bodhisattvas observe, judge, and make decisions, they often rely not only on the mind consciousness but also on the manas; frequently they do not use the surface-level thinking and analysis of the mind consciousness, and the times they employ the deliberation (manasikāra) function of the manas are not few.