俱舍論記 4.45

4.45

"Attention (manaskāra) means being able to alert the mind": because it stirs the mind (manas), it is called attention (manaskāra). That is, it can cause the mind to be alerted to the object before it; the mind is like being submerged in sleep and not functioning, and by the power of attention it is alerted to take the object. In principle, it is also able to alert the mental factors, but one speaks of the mind because it is predominant. Therefore, the Nyāyānusāra states: "Because all mental factors function dependent on the mind, when the mind is merely stirred, the others are stirred as well." The Nyāyānusāra also states: "Drawing the mind and mental factors and causing them to have alertness toward the intentional object is called attention." In worldly terms, this is called 'keeping in mind.' The Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya calls it 'recollection' (smaraṇa). Furthermore, the Abhidharmāvatāra states: "Attention means being able to alert the mind," which means drawing the mind toward the object, and also retaining previously experienced objects, etc.