Cetasika english name, characteristic, (and few examples) were taken from Bhikkhu Bodhi’s CmoA.

No. Cetasika name Definition/explanation Characteristic Example

1 Phassa (contact) Mental contact of the Touching. Mouth gets watery when seeing
object. someone eat a lemon.
2 Vedanā (feeling) Feeling/experiencing of the Being felt. A king enjoying the dish prepared
object. by the cook.
3 Saññā (perception) Perception/noting of the Perceiving of the qualities of the A carpenter’s recognition of the
object. object. kind of wood based on the mark he
made.
4 Cetanā (volition) Motivation/organizing of State of willing. Chief pupil/class leader, he learns
the associated cetasikas. himself and helps others to learn.
5 Ekaggatā (one-pointedness) One- Non-wandering/non-distraction. A steady lamp flame in a windless
pointedness/unification of place.
the mind of the object.
6 Jῑvitindriya (mental life faculty) Faculty of mental life. Maintaining the associated mental The water in the lotus stalk.
states.
7 Manasikāra (attention) Attention/Turning the mind Conducting of the associated The rudder of a ship.
to the object attention. mental states towards the object.
8 Vitakka (initial application) Takes the mind to the Directing the mind to the object. The bird taking off/Initial sound of
object/application of the the bell being hit.
mind to the object.
9 Vicāra (sustained application) Keeps the mind on the Continued pressure on the object. The bird gliding in the
object. air/Continued sound of the bell.
10 Adhimokkha (decision) Dwelling on the object Conviction. A judge that decides a case/A
firmly. steady pillar owing to its
unwavering state.
11 Viriya (energy) Supporting the associated Supporting, exerting, and An old house being supported by
mental states. marshalling. new pillars.
12 Pῑti (zest) Joy/zest. Endearing. The sight of an oasis to a weary
traveler.
13 Chanda (desire) Will to do. Desire to act. The stretching of the hand to grasp
an object.
14 Moha (delusion) Ignorance. Mental blindness/unknowing

Definition and example of cetasika were taken from Abhidhamma lessons by D.K.K.N. (mostly taken from lesson #29 PDF slide.)
 Cetasika english name, characteristic, (and few examples) were taken from Bhikkhu Bodhi’s CmoA.

15 Ahirika (shamelessness of wrongdoing) Lack of moral shame. Absence of disgust at bodily and Village pig not disgusted to eat
verbal misconduct. feces.
16 Anottappa (fearlessness of wrongdoing) Lack of moral dread. Absence of dread at bodily and Evil deeds are like an open flame,
verbal misconduct. anottappa is like the moths. (who
are attracted to the flame)
17 Uddhacca (restlessness) Distraction/unsettled state Disquietude. Water whipped up by the
of mind. wind/Minute particle of ash fly
about when a stone is thrown into
a heap of ash.
18 Lobha (greed) Greed and attachment to Grasping an object. Tree sap that can make monkey’s
the object. hands stick.
19 Diṭṭhi (wrong view) Seeing wrongly. Unwise (unjustified) interpretation
of things.
20 Māna (conceit) Haughtiness.
21 Dosa (hatred) Anger or violence of mind. Ferocity. A cobra struck by a stick.
22 Issā (envy) Jealousy towards other Being jealous of others’ success. When one hears or meets an
success. individual superior to one in
beauty, wealth, education, or
morality one often feels envious.
23 Macchariya (avarice) Selfishness or envy. Concealing one’s success when it
Macchariya means wishing has been or can be obtained.
other persons to get
nothing.
24 Kukkucca (worry) Remorse. Subsequent regret. A slave carrying a load.
25 Thῑna (sloth) Sluggishness of mind and Lack of driving power.
body.
26 Middha (torpor) Torpor or dullness of mind Unwieldiness.
and body.
27 Vicikicchā (doubt) Doubt or skepticism on the Doubting.
Buddha, Dhamma, and
Saṅgha. Vicikicchā is neither
total disbelief nor complete
acceptance.

Definition and example of cetasika were taken from Abhidhamma lessons by D.K.K.N. (mostly taken from lesson #29 PDF slide.)
 Cetasika english name, characteristic, (and few examples) were taken from Bhikkhu Bodhi’s CmoA.

28 Saddhā (faith) Well-established confidence Placing faith or trusting. Water purifying gem of the
in the Buddha, Dhamma, universal monarch.
and Saṅgha.
29 Sati (mindfulness) Presence of mind, Not wobbling.
attentiveness to the
present.
30 Hiri (shame of wrongdoing) Shame of wrongdoing. Disgust at bodily and verbal
misconduct.
31 Ottappa (fear of wrongdoing) Fear of wrongdoing. Dread in bodily and verbal
misconduct.
32 Alobha (non-greed) Non-greed. Mind’s lack of desire for its object, A drop of water on a lotus leaf.
or non-adherence to the object.
33 Adosa (non-hatred) Non-hatred. Lack of ferocity, or non-opposing.
34 Tatramajjhattatā (neutrality of mind) Conveying consciousness and the A Charioteer who looks on with
mental factors evenly. equanimity at the thoroughbreds
progressing evenly along the
roadway.
35 Passaddhi (tranquillity) Quieting down of disturbances in A cool shade of a tree to a person
the mental body and consciousness affected by the sun’s heat.
respectively.
36 Lahutā (lightness) Subsiding of heaviness in the
mental body and consciousness,
respectively.
37 Mudutā (malleability) Subsiding of rigidity in the mental
body and consciousness,
respectively.
38 Kammaññatā (wieldiness) Subsiding of unwieldiness in the Heated metal made fit for any use.
mental body and consciousness,
respectively.
39 Pāguññatā (proficiency) The healthiness of the mental body
and consciousness, respectively.
40 Ujjukatā (rectitude) Uprightness of the mental body
and consciousness, respectively.

Definition and example of cetasika were taken from Abhidhamma lessons by D.K.K.N. (mostly taken from lesson #29 PDF slide.)
 Cetasika english name, characteristic, (and few examples) were taken from Bhikkhu Bodhi’s CmoA.

41 Sammāvācā (right speech) Abstinence from musāvāda, Non-transgression by the wrong A person who is afraid to hold a
pisuṇavācā, pharusavācā speech. red-hot iron.
and shamphappalāpa.
42 Sammākammanta (right action) Abstinence from pāṇātipāta, Non-transgression by bodily A person who is afraid to hold an
adinnādāna, and kāmesu misconduct. iron covered in feces.
micchācāra.
43 Sammā-ājῑva (right livelihood) Abstinence from selling Non-transgression by wrong A person who is fearful of earing a
poison, intoxicants, livelihood. poisonous fruit.
weapons, slaves, and
animals for slaughter.
44 Karuṇā (compassion) Great pity for the less Promoting the removal of suffering Parents who see their only son in
fortunate beings. in others. an ailment.
45 Muditā (appreciative joy) The feeling of sympathetic Gladness at the success of others. Parents looking at a beautiful and
joy at the success, welfare, youthful daughter.
and prosperity of others,
46 Paññā (the wisdom faculty) Intelligence, knowledge, Penetrating things according to A lamp that can bring light to the
wisdom. This mental factor their intrinsic nature. darkness.
enables one to dispel the
darkness of ignorance and
delusion which conceals the
truth.

Source:

Abhidhamma Lessons by Daw Kyi Kyi Nyein (lesson#19-lesson#29)

Bhikkhu Bodhi’s “A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma” (Chapter 2)

Last edited: 8 Nov 2021

Definition and example of cetasika were taken from Abhidhamma lessons by D.K.K.N. (mostly taken from lesson #29 PDF slide.)