manasikāra
Attention
[ ma-na-see-KAA-ra ]
Seeing it in life
Manasikāra turns the stream of consciousness to a particular object, controlling what is cognized. Yoniso manasikāra — wise attention — is decisive for the path.
In short
Directing the mind to its object.
The analysis
Manasikāra turns the stream of consciousness toward a particular object — the texts liken it to a helmsman steering a boat, or the coordinated turning of horses pulling a cart toward one direction. It's one of the seven universal cetasikas, present in every citta as the factor that determines what gets attended to. Yoniso manasikāra — wise or 'appropriate' attention — is repeatedly identified in the suttas as decisive for the whole path, since it's the entry point for which of many possible perceptions and reactions actually gets engaged.
Where it sits
Manasikāra works alongside phassa at the opening of a cognitive process — contact makes an object available, manasikāra directs the mind's turning toward it. Wise attention is what allows a feeling-tone to be met with sati rather than immediately recruiting craving.
The choice, barely noticed, of what to attend to in a crowded inbox — the one alarming subject line among twenty ordinary ones — is manasikāra selecting, before any content has been fully processed.
Commonly mistaken for
Conscious, deliberate attention only. Manasikāra operates in every citta, including rapid, unreflective ones.
The same as sati. Manasikāra simply directs toward an object; sati specifically holds and doesn't drift from it — related but distinct factors.
Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha II; Manasikāra Sutta (AN 1).
Related terms