Muṣitasmṛtitā (Sanskrit; Tibetan phonetic: jengé) is a Buddhist term that is translated as "forgetfulness". In the Mahayana tradition, muṣitasmṛtitā is defined as forgetting or losing our focus on a virtuous object and instead focusing on an object or situation that causes non-virtuous thoughts or emotions to arise.[1][2]
| Translations of Muṣitasmṛtitā | |
|---|---|
| English | forgetfulness |
| Sanskrit | Muṣitasmṛtitā |
| Chinese | 失念, 忘念 |
| Korean | 실념, 망념 (RR: silneoym, mangneoym) |
| Tibetan | བརྗེད་ངས། (Wylie: brjed ngas; THL: jengé) |
| Glossary of Buddhism | |
Muṣitasmṛtitā is identified as:
- One of the twenty secondary unwholesome factors within the Mahayana Abhidharma teachings
Definitions
editMipham Rinpoche states:
- Forgetfullness [muṣitasmṛtitā] is to be unclear and forget a virtuous object. It is the erroneous mindfulness that accompanies a disturbing emotion, and it is the opposite of being mindful. It forms the support for distraction of mind.[2]
The Abhidharma-samuccaya states:
- What is forgetfulness? It is fleeting inspection which is simultaneous with and on the same level as the emotions. It functions as the basis of distraction.[1]
Alexander Berzin explains:
- Forgetfulness (brjed-nges). Based on recollection of something toward which we have a disturbing emotion or attitude, forgetfulness is losing our object of focus so that it will wander to that disturbing object. Forgetfulness serves as the basis for mental wandering (rnam-par g.yeng-ba).[3]
See also
editReferences
editSources
edit- Berzin, Alexander (2006), Primary Minds and the 51 Mental Factors
- Guenther, Herbert V. & Leslie S. Kawamura (1975), Mind in Buddhist Psychology: A Translation of Ye-shes rgyal-mtshan's "The Necklace of Clear Understanding" Dharma Publishing. Kindle Edition.
- Kunsang, Erik Pema (translator) (2004). Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1. North Atlantic Books.
- Nina van Gorkom (2010), Cetasikas, London: Zolag