The Difference and Connection Between Saṃjñā and Smṛti in Buddhist Mental Factors

The five universally operating mental factors: attention, contact, sensation, perception, and volition. The five object-specific mental factors: desire, firm conviction, recollection, concentration, and wisdom. The mental factor of perception belongs to the five universally operating mental factors, operating universally at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. Whenever conscious awareness arises, the mental factor of perception operates, because the primary function of conscious awareness is to recognize and understand the contacted dharmas (phenomena). Perception involves discrimination and understanding—taking on mental impressions. Only after mental impressions are formed can discrimination occur. After discriminating the dharmas, the five object-specific mental factors begin to operate.

The operation of the five object-specific mental factors begins with the arising of desire, interest, seeking, and inquiry toward the discriminated dharmas. After attaining a certain degree of firm conviction regarding the dharmas, recollection of the dharmas arises, and the mental factor of recollection manifests. Without prior understanding of the dharmas, there can be no subsequent firm conviction in them. If one cannot attain firm conviction in the dharmas, one will not recollect them. Without understanding or desiring the dharmas, how could they be kept in mind? If something can be kept in mind, it indicates that one has already understood it, considers it important, and recognizes it as necessary. This shows that the mental factor of perception gives rise to the mental factor of recollection. Hence, there is a term "perception and recollection" (xiangnian), signifying perception first, then recollection.

This mental factor of recollection corresponds to the factor of mindfulness within the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. For example, when studying the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths, only after fully understanding them, recognizing their crucial importance regarding the cycle of birth and death, and attaining a considerable degree of firm conviction, can the factor of mindfulness arise—continuously contemplating the Four Noble Truths and comparing them with the activities of the five aggregates in daily life. Without thorough discrimination and understanding of the principles of the Four Noble Truths, it is impossible to recollect them.

From this, it can be seen that the operation of the five universally operating mental factors has no prerequisites; they can accompany conscious awareness at all times and in all places. In contrast, the emergence of the five object-specific mental factors requires specific prerequisites; they cannot arise universally at all times and in all places. They manifest only under specific conditions when the necessary factors are present. The mental factors of desire, firm conviction, recollection, concentration, and wisdom each require distinct conditions. Furthermore, these five mental factors themselves serve as conditions for the emergence of subsequent mental factors; the preceding mental factors determine whether the subsequent ones will arise. Therefore, the mental factor of wisdom is not possessed by everyone, nor does it manifest regarding all dharmas. The same applies to the mental factors of concentration, recollection, firm conviction, and desire.