Nāma
(lit. 'name'): 'mind', mentality.
This term is generally used as a collective name for the 4 mental groups (arūpino khandha), viz.
- feeling (vedanā),
- perception (saññā),
- mental formations (sankhāra) and
- consciousness (viññāna).
Within the 4th link (nāma-rūpa) in the formula of the paticcasamuppāda, however, it applies only to karma-resultant (vipāka) feeling and perception and a few karma-resultant mental functions inseparable from any consciousness.
As it is said (M.9; D.15; S.XII.2): "Feeling (vedanā), perception (saññā), volition (cetanā), impression (phassa), mental advertence (manasikāra): this, o brother, is called mind (nāma)."
With the addition of 2 more mental factors, namely, mental vitality (jīvita) and concentration (samādhi), here 'stationary phase of mind' (cittatthiti), these 7 factors are said in the Abhidhammattha Sangaha to be the inseparable mental factors in any state of consciousness.