Mind and Mental Factors Operate Together, Never Apart for a Moment

Mind dharmas must rely upon mental factors (caittas) in order to manifest and operate. The function of the mind dharma is the function of the mental factors, and the function of the mental factors is the function of the mind dharma. Mental factors must accompany the mind dharma moment by moment; the two cannot be separated even for an instant. The discernment of the mind dharma is accomplished in two ways: one is through the operation of the mental factors, and the other is through the Buddha-nature formed by the great seed of seeing.