The Operation of the Five Universally Active Mental Factors

The concept of "all-accompaniment" in the five universally interactive mental factors refers to these five mental factors accompanying all consciousnesses and accompanying all dharmas. Whenever consciousnesses are functioning, the five universally interactive mental factors are necessarily functioning. Consciousnesses cannot function, exist, or engage in discernment activities apart from these five mental factors. Furthermore, within all dharmas, the five universally interactive mental factors of consciousness are also present, because within all dharmas, the operations of at least the eighth consciousness and the seventh consciousness are necessarily present, and the five universally interactive mental factors inevitably accompany the functioning of these two consciousnesses.

The meaning of the "mutual co-arising" of the five universally interactive mental factors is that these mental factors are born and function together as a cluster. For example, when the eighth consciousness gives rise to a dharma, all five universally interactive mental factors must accompany the eighth consciousness throughout its entire operation, without a single one missing. However, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are not necessarily like this. After the sixth and seventh consciousnesses engage in volition (manasikāra), if there is no interest, they may not engage in contact (sparśa), especially the seventh consciousness, manas. After contact occurs, sensation (vedanā) is not necessarily present, especially in the seventh consciousness, manas. After sensation, perception (saṃjñā) is not necessarily present, especially in the seventh consciousness, manas. After perception, volitional formation (cetanā) is not necessarily present, especially in the seventh consciousness, manas. If the mental factors of manas do not proceed further, the six consciousnesses cannot arise, and even if they appear, they will vanish and cease functioning. Especially if the volitional formation (cetanā) mental factor of manas does not arise, none of the six consciousnesses can arise. This reveals the monarch-like ruling position of manas and the extent of its authority.

The Dharma is profound. If contemplation is even slightly inadequate, deviations can arise. Yet, the contemplation of the vast majority of people is deviant, and they are unable to discover this themselves. It is precisely because their own contemplation is inadequate that they have no choice but to place one hundred percent faith in the words of famous figures, relying on a ready-made answer, considering it ultimate and reliable, unaware of their error. This is an extremely common phenomenon in the current Buddhist community.