Aññāsamānacetasika

aññāsamānacetasika. A classification of mental factors within the Pali tradition.

A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma states:

The Abhidhamma philosophy recognizes fifty-two cetasikas, which are classified into four broad categories...

(1) seven universals;

(2) six occasionals;

(3) fourteen unwholesome factors; and

(4) twenty-five beautiful factors.

The ethically variable factors (aññāsamānacetasika): The first two categories of mental factors—the seven universals and the six occasionals—are united under the designation aññasamāna, freely rendered here as “ethically variable.” The expression literally means “common to the other.” The non-beautiful cittas are called “other” (añña) in relation to the beautiful cittas, and the beautiful cittas are called “other” in relation to the non-beautiful cittas. The thirteen cetasikas of the first two categories are common (samāna) to both beautiful and non-beautiful cittas, and assume the ethical quality imparted to the citta by the other cetasikas, particularly the associated roots (hetu). In wholesome cittas they become wholesome, in unwholesome cittas they become unwholesome, and in kammically indeterminate cittas they become kammically indeterminate. For this reason they are called “common to the other,” that is, ethically variable.

See also: aniyata ("indeterminate")