Cetasika: 12 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Theravada
2. General definition
Languages
1. Pali
2. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Cetasika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Chetasika.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist TermsMental concomitant (see vedana, sanna, and sankhara).Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

M/N (State of mind). Mental factor.

Source: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

Cetasikas are mental factors that co exist with citta or co arise with citta. They are mind conditioners and they influence mind and condition mind to have different names. They pass away at the very same time when citta falls away. They also have to depend on the same vatthu or base and they also have to take the same object that citta takes.

There are 52 cetasikas in total. They are

7 sabbacittasadharana cetasikas
6 pakinnaka cetasikas
14 akusala cetasikas
25 sobhana cetasikas

7 + 6 + 14 + 25 = 52 cetasikas in total.

Source: Buddhist Information: A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas

Cetasika or mental factor, is another type of Dhamma which arises together with citta, experiences the same object as citta, falls away together with citta and arises at the same base as citta. Cetasikas have each their own characteristic and perform each their own function. There are 52 types of cetasikas in all.

Source: Dhamma Study: Introduction to the Dhamma

Second kind of Nama.

Cetasikas (or mental formations); These mental factors arise accompanying each moment of experience (each citta). There is not one moment of experience occurring without at least some of them. Their function is to add to the experience each in their own way. Each cetasika or mental factor has its own special characteristic by which it is recognized and function which it performs. For example, the characteristic of conceit is haughtiness and self praise is its function.

There are 52 different types of cetasikas. Some examples of them are feeling, perception (or memory), contact, intention, attention, effort, interest, desire- to- do, restlessness, attachment, conceit, hate, envy, awareness, confidence, detachment, balance of mind, concentration, kindness, compassion.

Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

'mental things, mental factors', are those mental concomitants which are bound up with the simultaneously arising consciousness (citta = viññāna) and conditioned by its presence.

Whereas in the Suttas all phenomena of existence are summed up under the aspect of 5 groups:

corporeality,
feeling,
perception,
mental formations,
consciousness (s. khandha),

the Abhidhamma as a rule treats them under the more philosophical 3 aspects:

consciousness,
mental factors and
corporeality (citta, cetasika, rūpa).

Thus, of these 3 aspects, the mental factors (cetasika) comprise feeling, perception and the 50 mental formations, altogether 52 mental concomitants.

Of these, 25 are lofty qualities (either karmically wholesome or neutral), 14 karmically unwholesome, while 13 are as such karmically neutral, their karmical quality depending on whether they are associated with wholesome, unwholesome or neutral consciousness. For details s. Tab. II, III. Cf. prec. (App.)

Source: Dhamma Study: Cetasikas

Cetasika means literally: belonging to the mind (ceto). There are fifty two different cetasikas which each have their own characteristic and function.

There are seven cetasikas which have to arise with every citta; they are called the "universals" (sabbacitta-sadharana). Some cittas are accompanied only by the universals, others are accompanied by several more cetasikas in addition. Thus, every citta is accompanied by at least the seven universals.

Sometimes translated as: Kaya (because Kaya also means 'mental body', which are the Cetasikas).

Source: Pali Kanon: Introducing Buddhist Abhidhamma

Mind (citta) is consciousness plus something. Along with any consciousness, there arise certain mental constituents which are called cetasikas, like love, hate anger, disgust, disappointment, etc. These cetasikas are also translated as mental factors, mental concomitants, mental adjuncts, psychic factors, etc.

There are 52 cetasikas. When any consciousness arises, some appropriate cetasikas always arise. These cetasikas arise and disappear along with consciousness.

Some 7 cetasikas always arise with every unit of consciousness and they are called Universals. Some 6 others arise as a whole or in parts. The remainder are morally good or bad or neutral and they arise in different combinations.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism

Cetasika means elonging to the mind. It is a mental factor which accompanies consciousness (citta) and experiences an object. There are 52 cetasikas.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

cetasika : (adj.) mental; (nt.), a mental property.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Cetasika, (adj.) belonging to ceto, mental (opp. kāyika physical). Kāyikaṃ sukhaṃ › cetasikaṃ s. A. I, 81; S. V, 209; kāyikā darathā › c. d. M. III, 287, 288; c. duk khaṃ D II 306; A. I, 157; c. roga J. III, 337. c. kamma is sīla 8—10 (see under cetanā) Nett 43.—As n. combined with citta it is to be taken as supplementing it, viz. mind & all that belongs to it, mind and mental properties, adjuncts, co-efficients (cp. vitakka-vicāra & sach cpds. as phalâphala, bhavâbhava) D. I, 213; see also citta. Occurring in the Nikāyas in sg. only, it came to be used in pl. and, as an ultimate category, the 52 cetasikas, with citta as bare consciousness, practically superseded in mental analysis, the 5 khandha-category. See Cpd. p. 1 and pt. II. Mrs. Rh. D. , Bud. Psy. 6, 148, 175. —°cetasikā dhammā Ps. I, 84; Vbh. 421; Dhs. 3, 18, etc. (cp. Dhs. trsl. pp. 6, 148). (Page 271)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Cetasika (चेतसिक).—adj. (MIndic for cait°), = caitasika, q.v.: Mahāvastu ii.260.7; iii.66.7, 14 (see vedayita, which Senart reads); Kāśyapa Parivarta 103.5; Divyāvadāna 352.15 ff.; Avadāna-śataka i.31.14. All cited under cait°.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 44 books and stories containing Cetasika; (plurals include: Cetasikas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Appendix 2 - To Cetasika < [Appendix]

Chapter 21 - Roots < [Part 2 - Citta]

Chapter 16 - Citta And Cetasika < [Part 2 - Citta]

+ 30 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 5 - Hetu paccayo (or root condition)

Chapter 2 - Cetasikas (or mental factors)

Chapter 22 - Magga paccayo (or path condition)

+ 23 more chapters / show preview

Introduction < [Contents]

Chapter 7 - Vitality And Attention < [Part I - The Universals]

Chapter 12 - Zeal < [Part II - The Particulars (pakinnaka)]

+ 37 more chapters / show preview