The Five Particular Mental Factors

The five object-specific mental factors (pañca-viśeṣa-caitta) also accompany the operation of the mind-consciousness, also serving to assist its functioning; however, they cannot universally accompany the operation of the mind-consciousness, cannot accompany it at all times, cannot accompany it in all places, but can accompany it at all stages (bhūmis).

The mental factor of desire (chanda) is the mind-consciousness's desire, intention, idea, or demand to engage in some activity; it is the cause that initiates the subsequent operation of the mind-consciousness, but desire is not present at every moment. The mental factor of determination (adhimokṣa) is the mind-consciousness's capacity for thorough understanding of dharmas; only when the mind-consciousness possesses the power of determination and understands the dharmas can it make correct choices and act with wisdom in accordance with reality. The mental factor of mindfulness (smṛti) is when the mind-consciousness holds in mind the dharmas it intends to engage in or is currently engaging in, initiating the subsequent choosing, engaging, and continuing of activity upon those dharmas. The mental factor of meditative concentration (samādhi) is the mind-consciousness's state of focused attention, a state free from distraction and dullness, a state in which the mind-consciousness's attention is highly concentrated and unified. The mental factor of wisdom (prajñā) is the mind-consciousness's powerful capacity for discernment, comprehension, reception, discrimination, choice, and engagement—it is the mind-consciousness's powerful ability to process and resolve problems.

These five capacities do not appear at every moment; they only arise under particular circumstances. But the eighth consciousness's power of determination, power of meditative concentration, and power of wisdom (prajñā-bala) exist at all times, are present at all times, exist everywhere, and are present everywhere—pervading the discernment and functioning of all dharmas, and also pervading the operation throughout the three realms and nine stages (bhūmis).