Mental formation: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Mental formation means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Mental formation in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

Mental Formation refers to sankhāra.—s. Tab. II.

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).

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Mental formation in Tibetan Buddhism glossary
Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

Mental Formation refers to one of the “Five Aggregates” (i.e., “that which comprises the ‘person’”) which are known in Tibetan as phung po lnga.—Accordingly, [while describing the Svātantrika Madhyamaka philosophical school], [regarding the mode of imputation based on the aggregates]: [...] Some Saṃmatīyas say that all Five Aggregates [e.g., mental formations] are the self. Although schools from the Svātantrikas on down claim that the person is a mere imputation based on the aggregates, they think that if the aggregates are the basis of the imputation of a person, the aggregates necessarily are the person; and they believe that the aggregates are imputed as being the person. [...]

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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