The Eleven Wholesome Mental Factors (I)

The eleven wholesome mental factors sometimes accompany the mind consciousness as it operates, and sometimes do not. Only after the mind consciousness has eliminated afflictions can they accompany it more frequently; only after the mind consciousness has completely eradicated the habits of affliction can they accompany it at all times, so that the mind consciousness is wholesome at every moment. But the eighth consciousness has always been wholesome—it is never unwholesome, never afflicted.

In an evil person, the wholesome mental factors of the seven consciousnesses appear only occasionally; in a good person, the wholesome mental factors of the seven consciousnesses appear at times and not at other times. After the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are transformed into wisdom, the wholesome mental factors accompany the mind consciousness the vast majority of the time, though occasionally they still do not appear. Only in the Buddha's seven wisdom-consciousnesses do the wholesome mental factors appear constantly and at all times, permanently accompanying the wisdom-consciousness without ever ceasing.

The mental factor of faith refers to believing, being convinced, and having confidence—believing in the existence of wholesome dharmas, their meritorious functions, the power of wholesome dharmas, the principles of wholesome dharmas, the transformations of wholesome dharmas, the results of wholesome dharmas, and so on. But genuine faith refers to right faith, faith grounded in principle, deep faith, pure faith, and wholesome faith—without false faith, evil faith, impure faith, or an impure mind—one who can accept and assent to true principle, deeply believes in the merit of the Three Jewels, and has confidence that one can certainly attain buddhahood. The mental factor of faith does not appear and manifest at every moment; it arises only under special circumstances, when it is needed and necessary. One must have deep wholesome roots and merit, having studied Buddhism across kalpas, before faith can reach accomplishment. Once there is faith, there will be acceptance, submission, compliance, and putting it into practice. The first seven consciousnesses all correspond to the mental factor of faith; no matter what stage of cultivation one is at, the higher the stage of cultivation, the more complete the faith.

The mental factors of shame and remorse: shame is failing oneself, while remorse is failing others, and thereby feeling uneasy, self-reproachful, ashamed, guilty, bashful, culpable, regretful, and so on. When the mind has shame and remorse, it shows that the self has been subdued, that one knows how to reflect upon oneself, which accords with selflessness—one is not an arrogant egotist who exalts the self. The sixth and seventh consciousnesses correspond to these two mental factors of shame and remorse; no matter what stage of cultivation one is at, the higher the stage of cultivation, the stronger the sense of shame and remorse.