The Five Universal Mental Factors Pervade the Three Realms and Nine Levels of Existence

The five universally operating mental factors (pañca-sarvatraga-citta-saṃskāra) can universally accompany the mind consciousness in its operation; they pervade all places where the mind consciousness is present, all times when the mind consciousness exists, and all stages (bhūmis) in which the mind consciousness operates (the nine stages of the three realms, as well as in the nirvāṇa of the eighth consciousness).

The mental factor of contact (sparśa) enables the mind consciousness to come into contact and connect with the corresponding dharmas; the mental factor of attention (manaskāra) enables the mind consciousness to direct attention toward the object dharma; the mental factor of feeling (vedanā) enables the mind consciousness to receive the object dharma and give rise to feelings; the mental factor of perception (saṃjñā) enables the mind consciousness to discern the characteristics of the object dharma and give rise to grasping; the mental factor of volition (cetanā) enables the mind consciousness to give rise to decision-making and karmic actions.

All eight consciousnesses possess these five functions. The operations of the mind consciousness must manifest through these five forms, and of course they also manifest through the forms of other mental factors. The mind consciousness itself is formless and without characteristics, invisible; yet the functions of these five factors and the operations of other mental factors can be observed and recognized by the mind consciousness. When the mind consciousness recognizes these functions, it recognizes the mind consciousness itself and realizes the mind consciousness.