The Self-Nature and Selfless-Nature of the Conscious Mind

All eight consciousnesses at the Buddha-stage possess twenty-one mental factors, all possess the five object-specific mental factors, and all are devoid of self-nature.

The mental factor of desire (chanda) means having a goal to be accomplished; such a goal is not necessarily imbued with self-nature—there are also goals that are selfless and free of self-nature, aimed at realizing an objective.

The mental factor of determination (adhimokṣa) means having an understanding, a comprehension, a clarity regarding the dharma one is engaged with. Only after gaining clarity can one make choices and decisions, and then act.

The mental factor of mindfulness (smṛti) means having thoughts and intentions in the mind, and then carrying out those thoughts and intentions.

The mental factor of meditative concentration (samādhi) has two meanings: one is having a resolute mind regarding a dharma, remaining unwavering and firm in that dharma; the other is being fixed upon a certain dharma without moving, discerning and acting with single-minded focus.

The mental factor of wisdom (prajñā) means acting with wisdom, discerning with wisdom, making choices with wisdom, focusing with wisdom, and so forth.

Self-nature manifests in view-delusion and thought-delusion, and manifests in ignorance. When ignorance is completely eliminated, the seven consciousnesses are utterly without self.