The Eleven Wholesome Mental Factors (2)

The mental factor of non-greed (alobha) refers to the mind having no thoughts of craving, desire, or acquisitiveness, not being bound by dharmas, not clinging to dharmas, and being liberated from dharmas. All eight consciousnesses correspond with the mental factor of non-greed, but before the third fruit, the seven consciousnesses are sometimes without greed and sometimes with greed. When without greed, it is only temporary non-greed, non-greed toward individual dharmas; it is not the eradication of craving for the objects of the six sense objects, but rather the subduing and suppressing of greed so that greedy thoughts do not arise. Even if craving is eradicated, it is only eradication of craving for individual dharmas, such as quitting smoking or drinking, while there is still greed for other dharmas, and in the future greed toward individual dharmas may still arise; it is not permanent non-greed. Only after the third fruit do the seven consciousnesses eradicate greed, with the eradication of the craving for sexual desire as its main content. The eighth consciousness, from beginning to end, has never had greed toward any dharma whatsoever; He is an unconditioned mind, and therefore without greed.

The mental factor of non-hatred (adveṣa) refers to the mind having no thoughts or notions of anger and resentment, the mind being calm, without a mind of aversion, not being constrained by dharmas, and being liberated from dharmas. All eight consciousnesses correspond with non-hatred; it is just that before the third fruit, the seven consciousnesses are sometimes without hatred and sometimes with hatred, and when without hatred it is only temporary non-hatred, non-hatred toward individual dharmas, not the thorough and permanent eradication of hatred. Only after the third fruit do the seven consciousnesses eradicate the mental factor of hatred, no longer giving rise to the manifest activity of hatred, though this does not rule out the occasional appearance of habitual tendencies of hatred that then quickly subside. The eighth consciousness, from beginning to end, has no mental factor of hatred; at any time and place, toward any dharma, He gives rise to no hatred, and His own mind is forever pure; therefore the eighth consciousness corresponds with the mental factor of non-hatred.

The mental factor of non-delusion (amoha) refers to the mind having no deluded nature, no ignorance, and having the wisdom to clearly understand the corresponding dharmas. All eight consciousnesses correspond with non-delusion; it is only a matter of which dharmas are corresponded with and to what degree. For the sixth and seventh consciousnesses, non-delusion regarding the principle that the five aggregates are without self comes after the eradication of the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi); non-delusion regarding the true self, the tathāgatagarbha, begins after seeing the mind; non-delusion regarding escaping the mundane world and attaining liberation comes after the third fruit; and non-delusion regarding all dharmas comes after attaining buddhahood. Before attaining the fruits, non-delusion exists only with respect to individual dharmas, including worldly dharmas. The non-delusion of the five sense consciousnesses is the clear and definite understanding of the objects of the five sense objects; the non-delusion of the eighth consciousness, from beginning to end, is not being deluded about any dharma, without inversion or confusion, and without ignorance.

The mental factor of diligence (vīrya) refers to the mind not being slothful, being conscientious and dedicated, not neglecting one's duties, not seeking idle ease and laziness, and not being discouraged by setbacks. All eight consciousnesses correspond with the mental factor of diligence; it is only a matter of the degree of correspondence, when it occurs, and how long it lasts. The diligence of the five sense consciousnesses is always accomplished under the drive of the mind consciousness and the manas; they will not be diligent on their own initiative. The diligence of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses arises after awakening, when there is a certain purposefulness toward the dharma—wanting to obtain something or to achieve some goal—only then does diligence arise without sloth, along with vigorous effort to cease evil and cultivate goodness. The eighth consciousness is consistent throughout, never lazy or slothful, conscientious, methodical, neither hurried nor slow, without a moment of rest—this is the utmost diligence, even though He has no mind of diligence.

The mental factor of pliancy (praśrabdhi) refers to states of the mind such as being relaxed, at ease, joyful, pleasant, light, tranquil, comfortable, agile, free, and stable—not heavy, agitated, tense, busy, weary, or bored. A mind without cultivation does not easily manifest pliancy. All eight consciousnesses correspond with the mental factor of pliancy, but the first seven consciousnesses do not necessarily manifest the phenomenon of pliancy; only under specific circumstances, when cultivation has reached a certain level, will the mind manifest pliancy in cultivation. According to the seven factors of enlightenment, this belongs to the manifestation of the factor of reliance (prassāda); it is a prerequisite for realizing the dharmas of both the Great and Small Vehicles, and also a prerequisite for attaining meditative concentration (dhyāna and samādhi). The eighth consciousness has always been pliant and at ease, without burdens and without encumbrances.

The mental factor of non-negligence (apramāda) refers to the mind being neither idle and scattered nor sluggish, not seeking idle ease, not being careless, not indulging, not coveting pleasure; though not very diligent, it lies between diligence and negligence, with a proper balance of tension and relaxation. All eight consciousnesses correspond with the mental factor of non-negligence, but the first seven consciousnesses are not necessarily non-negligent; sometimes they are negligent and sometimes not. Only after cultivating the mind of renunciation can the seven consciousnesses become increasingly non-negligent. The sixth and seventh consciousnesses being constantly in a state of non-negligence occurs only after attaining the bhūmis, when the mind is non-negligent in the cultivation and realization of the Buddha-dharma and in the work of delivering sentient beings, not seeking a comfortable worldly life for oneself, but only seeking continuous advancement on the path and delivering more sentient beings. The eighth consciousness has never been negligent throughout beginningless kalpas; He is forever non-negligent, constantly corresponding with the mental factor of non-negligence.

The mental factor of equanimity of volitional formations (upekṣā): equanimity of volitional formations means the mental conduct is in a state of equanimity, impartial and unbiased, equanimous toward all dharmas, not dwelling on the past, not reaching toward the future, with a peaceful state of mind, neither sluggish nor hasty, abiding in the middle way, with a balanced mental attitude. All eight consciousnesses correspond with the mental factor of equanimity of volitional formations, but the first seven consciousnesses do not necessarily manifest the mental state of equanimity; only when there is meditative concentration, or under certain special circumstances, do the sixth and seventh consciousnesses manifest the mental factor of equanimity of volitional formations. The five sense consciousnesses, influenced and led by the sixth and seventh consciousnesses, are also in equanimity. For those of the third fruit and above, their minds are in equanimity most of the time. The eighth consciousness has always been in equanimity, forever corresponding with the mental factor of equanimity of volitional formations.

The mental factor of non-harmfulness (ahiṃsā) means having no mind of harm or defiance toward any person, matter, or thing; even when the mind is offended, one does not wish to retaliate or seek justice for oneself—in short, it is a mental conduct of not wanting to hurt others. All eight consciousnesses correspond with the mental factor of non-harmfulness, but the first seven consciousnesses sometimes have non-harmfulness and sometimes do not. Only in magnanimous, broad-minded people does the mental factor of non-harmfulness appear more frequently; after the mind of hatred has been eradicated, the mental factor of non-harmfulness frequently appears in the consciousnesses of the seven consciousnesses. The eighth consciousness has always been non-harmful, treating all people, matters, and things with compassion, without harming, retaliating, or vexing, and without defiance, forever corresponding with the mental factor of non-harmfulness.