Think of the Abhidhamma as a finely tuned gear system for the mind, where each moment of consciousness (citta) clicks into place alongside its supporting mental factors (cetasikas). Citta refers to those split-second flashes of awareness—89 in total according to the Dhammasangani—sorted into three broad buckets:
• Wholesome (kusala): 52 types, from generosity-fuelled joy to clear-seeing wisdom.
• Unwholesome (akusala): 14 kinds, marked by greed, hatred or delusion.
• Resultant/neutral (vipaka): 23 forms, carrying the karmic ripples of past actions.

Cetasikas are the little workhorses that color each citta. There are 52 mental factors, divided into four main clans:
• Universal factors (e.g. contact, feeling, perception) that hitch a ride on every single citta.
• Occasional factors (like effort or decision) that show up when needed.
• Wholesome beauties (faith, mindfulness, non-greed, non-hatred, wisdom) that elevate the mind.
• Unwholesome mischief-makers (greed, anger, jealousy, wrong view) which muddy the waters.

By and large, this tandem—citta and cetasika—reveals the psyche’s inner mechanics, much like a contemporary neuroscientist mapping synapses. Recent interest at places like the 2024 Mind & Life conference in Boston has put these ancient categories under the microscope, exploring how cetasikas overlap with emotional regulation circuits in the brain.

In practice, peeling back these layers offers a roadmap for inner work: spotting greed as it flickers up, leaning into mindfulness before delusion takes the wheel, or cultivating that tiny spark of wise attention that can steer the whole mental machinery toward greater peace. It’s a system that still resonates, bridging a 2,500-year-old tradition with today’s quest for mental well-being.