How the Mind Works

In this lesson, Thupten Jinpa introduces Abhidharma Psychology from a broader perspective, looking at the fundamental ideas that can be found in Buddhist psychology all the way back to the Buddha himself. He also focuses on the emergence of Abhidharma and explains its key aspects. Jinpa then highlights how understanding the primacy of the mind helps us understand the state of happiness and suffering. Additionally, he shares how the framework of the five aggregates is foundational to Abhidharma analysis. Jinpa discusses the evolution of Abhidharma and explains how Abhidharma systematically attempts to organize the Buddha’s teachings.

In this lesson, Thupten Jinpa explores the Buddhist map of the mind and delves into Buddhist mental typology in more detail through Asanga’s list of 51 mental factors. By comparing this list to those sourced from other texts on mental factors, Jinpa points out how Asanga’s list is structurally distinctive. He situates the taxonomy of mental factors within the broader Abhidharma category of the five aggregates. Providing detailed explanations on the first group of mental factors, he also highlights the benefits of studying mental factors in one’s daily practice.

In this lesson, you’ll explore in detail all five object-determinate factors, from aspiration to wisdom. Jinpa differentiates mindfulness as a faculty (smṛti, དྲན་པ་), the foundations of mindfulness, and the state that is attained through the application of mindfulness. He also helps us understand the usage of the term ‘mindfulness’ in contemporary literature and classical sources.

In this lesson, Thupten Jinpa describes the eleven virtuous factors, specifically focusing on key qualities from the list, such as faith (śraddhā, དད་པ་), heedfulness (apramāda, བག་ཡོད་), and equanimity (upekṣa, བཏང་སྙོམས་). Jinpa explains these terms from various perspectives, particularly comparing the views of Vasubandhu and other Buddhist schools with those of Asanga.

Thupten Jinpa skillfully explains the idea behind the mental factor from the practitioner’s point of view, and he identifies key virtuous factors that are relevant in specific everyday contexts. He further takes us through the process of encountering the opposite factors—the key function of all virtuous factors—and then provides insightful examples of how the psychology behind mental factors is applied in major Indian Buddhist texts, which can help us understand both the Buddhist theory of motivation and the benefits of mindfulness. Finally, he summarizes the first three groups of mental factors, their implications, and how they are applied in the cultivation of the path.

In this lesson, Thupten  Jinpa explains how the darker side of human psychology can be viewed through the lens of Asanga’s Abhidharma, specifically focusing on the deeply-embedded states of mind that afflict our minds. He guides us in understanding the internal relationship between the six afflictions and how they can or cannot coexist with one another. Additionally, he walks us through differentiating innate versus acquired levels of afflictions.

In this lesson, Thupten Jinpa explains the 20 secondary afflictions in relation to the six root afflictions. He then compares Vasubandhu’s list with Asanga’s list of afflictions to identify the areas of agreement and differentiation, and he goes on to clarify that these secondary afflictions should not be seen as independent entities but rather as belonging to specific families of mental factors.

Thupten Jinpa provides an overview of implementing the practice and application of what we have learned in everyday life from the practitioner’s perspective. He guides us in developing awareness as well as regulating and ultimately eliminating the negative afflictions as presented in Asanga’s Abhidharma. Finally, he reflects on the perspectives of masters such as Gonpawa, recognizing and characterizing each mental factor, and delves into the application of antidotes.

In this lesson, Thupten Jinpa discusses the final group of mental factors: the four variable factors. He then skillfully brings together a summary of the key points from the preceding groups of mental factors. He also thoroughly and insightfully compares Asanga’s and Vasubandhu’s lists of mental factors.

In this final lesson, Thupten Jinpa reviews all the factors of Abhidharma psychology and distills what we have learned in the course. He particularly emphasizes the mental factors’ characteristics and functions in the context of the cultivation of the path and meditative practice.