ED, To be honest I didn't read through them. I just glanced at them.
My discriminating mind also invents categories such as these to try to rationalize my experiences and create an order that I can better deal with - perhaps to allow me to believe I have control over things. I'm in fact very good at this. I use these analytical skills in my profession and in other aspects of my daily life. But all these are illusions and should not be given any special significance - like they represent 'truth' or 'reality'. These are like any categorizations or divisions. They are invented for a purpose, but outside of that purpose they have no meaning. They are like dividing up a range of sounds into notes: C, C#, D, D#, F, F#, etc... It's useful for creating a musical score that is pleasing to some cultures. It is also possible to associate the steps between the notes with frequency changes (although that's probably a recursive definition/explanation), but in the end it's just digitizing an analog system. It's creating dualisms out of a single whole. So...the 51 Mental Factors (or at least the process used to create them) are something that I am familar with, and I can say they (the 51) have absolutely nothing to do with Buddha Nature. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > > > Bill, > > Is there any significance to your personal experiences, sensations and > opinions when you see the list of 51 Mental Factors? > > Thanks, > > --ED > > > > --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > ED, > > > > '51 Mental Factors'? Give me a break! This is the kind of > overly-indulgent dogma that send shivers up my spine. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > http://viewonbuddhism.org/mind.html#3 > <http://viewonbuddhism.org/mind.html#3> > > > 51 MENTAL FACTORS > > > In the Abhidharmakosha of Vasubandu, 51 types of mind states or > mental > > > factors are distinguished. > > > > > > They are mainly categorised by the way they are related to the main > > > delusions of attachment, anger and ignorance, (see below) and their > > > relevance to mind training. > > > > > > Note that the English terms used often have different connotations > than > > > the actual definitions in Buddhism. > > > > > > Although below list may appear a dull list of definitions, a careful > > > study of it can explain much of the Buddhist attitude towards the > mind. > > > > > > The list does not have the intention to be complete in describing > all > > > possible mental states, but describes merely the most important ones > in > > > relation to spiritual practice. > > > > > > > > > THE 5 OMNIPRESENT (EVER-RECURRING) MENTAL FACTORS > > <snip> > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
