The Mental Factor of Volition in the Six Consciousnesses

The "cetanā" of the mental factor of volition (cetanā) contains the meanings of deliberation (manasikāra), formation, and determination; all of these mental activities belong to the nature of operation, and belong to formation (saṃskāra). Formation can be called the aggregate of formations (saṃskāra-skandha), and can also be called the aggregate of volitional formations. Why is it called the aggregate of volitional formations? Because if we take these mental activities, these functions and operations, to be real, to be "me" and "mine," then the true nature of the true Dharma is obscured, the wondrously luminous true mind is obscured, and then one only sees the operation of these dharmas without seeing the intrinsic functionality of the eighth consciousness; therefore formation is also called the aggregate of volitional formations. Why is it called the aggregate of formations? The operation of the mind consciousness is a functional operation gathered and accumulated by various conditions, so it is also called the aggregate of formations; in fact, they are all mental factors (caittas), a function of the six consciousnesses.

Volition is a kind of behavioral formation; whatever involves behavioral formation, involves change, and can operate is called formation. The scope of the aggregate of volitional formations is broader than the scope of the mental factor of volition; the aggregate of volitional formations also includes the operating functions of the physical body, and the complete scope of the aggregate of volitional formations covers the operations of both body and mind. The operation of the mental factor of volition is also very complex; its functions are deliberation, weighing, choosing, and forming, and the final step is determining the action. The mental factor of volition has three processes: including thinking, deliberating, analyzing, and judging, making a choice, and finally taking actual action. The volition of the first five consciousnesses is relatively simple, only determining whether to approach or depart from an object; the volition of the sixth consciousness is the most complex, requiring repeated consideration and deliberation, and its power of wisdom is relatively strong; the volition of the first five consciousnesses can only operate by relying on the perception and volition of the sixth consciousness. Therefore volition itself is mental action; after mental action is formed, bodily action and verbal action arise, and in this way the five consciousnesses also participate in it.