The Relationship Between Cetasikas and Citta (Part 1)

The mind king is the master, and the mental factors are the attendants, serving as the functions of the master. The mind king operates in every moment in the form of mental factors; it cannot function apart from mental factors. If mental factors depart from the mind king, they cannot exist or function. When the mind king arises, it operates in the form of mental factors. Without the operation of mental factors, there certainly is no mind king. Among them, the five universal mental factors cannot be separated from the eight consciousnesses even for a moment, while other mental factors accompany the mind king only on specific occasions. Mental factors are like the staff of the mind king; the mind king is like an emperor, and mental factors are like the crown and imperial robes.

The operation of the conscious mind is the operation of mental factors. Without mental factors, consciousness cannot be perceived. Observing the operation of mental factors is equivalent to observing consciousness. Among them, the mental factors of attention, contact, sensation, perception, and volition are the discriminative functions that the eight consciousnesses generate towards their objects. Mental factors are the tools of the eight consciousnesses. The mind king never departs from its tools, just as a person walking must use legs and feet; without legs and feet, one cannot walk. The eight consciousnesses are like the body, and mental factors are like the two legs; the body must use legs to walk. The eight consciousnesses must use mental factors to operate and function.

To facilitate understanding the relationship between the mind king and mental factors, we can liken the eight consciousnesses to the physical body and mental factors to the eyes, ears, and nose. For the physical body to move, it relies on eyes, ears, nose, etc. For the Tathāgatagarbha to operate, it relies on mental factors. Alternatively, we can compare the mind king to a robot and mental factors to the robot's limbs. For the robot to function, it relies on its limbs; when the limbs move, it indicates the robot has appeared and is working.

Among them, the five universal mental factors are most intimately inseparable from the Tathāgatagarbha, never departing even for a fraction of a second. The five object-specific mental factors are next; they arise specifically and do not appear constantly. The eleven wholesome mental factors appear and disappear intermittently, and the afflictive mental factors also appear and disappear intermittently, ultimately destined to cease. Therefore, for the mind king to operate, it uses the five universal mental factors every moment. On some occasions, it uses the five object-specific and eleven wholesome mental factors. Afflictive mental factors are not necessarily present in every mind king; the Tathāgatagarbha naturally lacks afflictive mental factors. The afflictive mental factors of the seven consciousnesses will ultimately be extinguished through cultivation.