དན་རྣམ་པར་ངས་པ་ཞས་བྱ་བའ་ཆས་ཀྱ་རྣམ་གྲངས notes.19

notes.19

19. Saṁjñā is not easy to translate: it refers to a concept or idea through which one identifies, correctly or incorrectly, the object of cognition by determining that it has a certain “sign” (nimitta, a term closely connected to perceptual experiences). Its function is associated with naming, since saṁjñā can be verbalized by those who are acquainted with language, as pointed out in Abhidharma texts. It can also refer to an evaluative belief about something, such as it being desirable, etc., or a notion that one should develop through training (such as the idea that the Dharma teacher is the Buddha). In some forms of Abhidharma, it is explained that the consciousnesses based on the five senses have weak saṁjñā, while it is sharp in case of thought-consciousness. Saṁjñā complements the perception of objects (vijñānaskandha) with enough determination to become fit to be put into words, expressing specific referents and their features. It is regarded as a mental state (caitta), accompanying the basic mind (citta) that is defined as the mere perception of objects, incapable of grasping their specificities.