Adverting (Buddhism)

With the being in a state of life-continuum, the faculties become capable of apprehending an object. Sense data can then be apprehended and there is an impact between the sentient organism and the object, for example between the eye and visible data. The life-continuum is interrupted and wavers. This ceasing in the life-continuum is followed by the arising of the indeterminate functional or inoperative mind-element which effects the function of adverting. This is true for the "doors" of all five senses and is sometimes called "five-door adverting".

Similarly, when any of the six types of object is in focus at the mind "door", then the indeterminate functional mind-consciousness element arises, indifferent (accompanied by equanimity), cutting off the life-continuum and effecting the function of adverting. This is sometimes called "six-door adverting".

As attention controls or regulates the cognitive series or process of consciousness it is "five-door" adverting; as it controls or regulates impulsion or apperception it is "six-door" adverting.

In Hinayana Buddhism, this is the third mode of occurrence of consciousness in which the 89 kinds of consciousness proceed.