Mental formations, or “mental concomitants,” are the current contents of the mind, manifesting in every moment. There are two main groups:

1. Universal (sarvatraga – universally present):
   1. contact (xúc)
   2. attention (tác ý)
   3. feeling (thọ)
   4. perception/ideation (tưởng)
   5. volition/determination (tư)
2. Particular:
   1. desire/intention (dục)
   2. determination/resolve (thắng giải)
   3. remembrance/mindfulness (niệm)
   4. concentration (định)
   5. wisdom/understanding (tuệ)

Each mental formation can be wholesome, unwholesome, or neutral.

A key factor is appropriate attention (yoniso-manasikāra), which is the opposite of inappropriate attention, to recognize and “replace the peg” (vitakka-saṇṭhāna) of unhelpful intentions. Applied in the meditation on the breath (Anapanasati), mindfulness is expressed through six miracles:

1. to be present – bringing body and mind together
2. to acknowledge the presence of the other
3. to relieve suffering
4. to nurture
5. to look deeply (quán chiếu)
6. to see/insight (tuệ) → to transform (chuyển hóa)