Muṣitasmṛtitā

Muṣitasmṛtitā (T. brjed ngas) 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.

Muṣitasmṛtitā is identified as:

• One of the twenty secondary unwholesome factors within the Mahayana Abhidharma teachings

Definitions

Mipham 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.

The Abhidharma-samuccaya states:

What is forgetfulness? It is it fleeting inspection which is simultaneous with and on the same level as the emotions. It functions as the basis of distraction.

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).

See also

• Kleshas
• Mental factors

Sources

• Berzin, Alexander (2006), Mind and Mental Factors: The Fifty-one Types of Subsidiary Awareness
• 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, Zolag

External links

Mahayana tradition:

• Mind and Mental Factors: The Fifty-one Types of Subsidiary Awareness
• Ranjung Yeshe wiki entry for brjed ngas