The Mental Factors of Sensation, Perception, Mental Formations, and Consciousness in the Six Consciousnesses

The Five Aggregates, also known as the Five Skandhas, consist of four aggregates—feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness—all of which are intrinsic to the nature of the six consciousnesses. The aggregate of feeling (vedanā) represents the essential nature and function of sensation within the six consciousnesses. The aggregate of perception (saññā) constitutes the functional activity of cognition within the six consciousnesses. The aggregate of mental formations (saṅkhāra) embodies the functional activity of volition within the six consciousnesses. The aggregate of consciousness (viññāṇa) is the functional activity of discernment within the six consciousnesses. These four aggregates correspond respectively to the four mental factors—feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness—associated with the six consciousnesses. When the six consciousnesses come into contact with the six sense objects (six dusts), the mental factor of feeling arises, followed by the mental factor of perception, and the mental factor of volition (cetanā). The mental factor of volition encompasses the intention to initiate bodily and verbal actions, the process of conceptual thinking and mental fabrication, and the capacity to manifest physical, verbal, and mental activities.