What is satori (enlightenment)?

Ken: What is “mental fabrication” in Buddhism?

Chat: In Buddhism, the term “mental fabrication” typically refers to the cognitive processes and mental activities that shape our perceptions and experiences of the world. It is a fundamental concept in Buddhist psychology and is often discussed in the context of understanding the nature of suffering (dukkha) and the path to liberation from suffering (nirvana).

Mental fabrication involves the generation of thoughts, concepts, and mental formations. It includes the interpretation and categorization of sensory information, which can lead to the construction of our subjective reality. Our mental fabrications influence our emotions, judgments, and the way we experience the world.

In the Buddhist understanding, mental fabrication is considered a source of suffering (dukkha) because it often leads to attachment, aversion, and ignorance. When we engage in unwholesome mental fabrications driven by greed, hatred, and delusion, we create the conditions for suffering. The path to liberation from suffering, as taught by the Buddha, involves recognizing and understanding these fabrications, cultivating mindfulness and wisdom, and ultimately transcending them.

Ken: Many Buddhists think of enlightenment as “seeing reality.” But isn’t enlightenment or satori also a mental…