title: Muṣitasmṛtitā
text: # Muṣitasmṛtitā
  
  Muṣitasmṛtitā (Sanskrit; Tibetan phonetic: jengé) is a Buddhist term that is translated as "forgetfulness". In the Mahayana tradition, muṣitasmṛtitā is defined as forgetting or losing our focus on a virtuous object and instead focusing on an object or situation that causes non-virtuous thoughts or emotions to arise.
  
  Muṣitasmṛtitā is identified as:
  
  ## Definitions
  
  Mipham Rinpoche states:
  
      Forgetfullness [muṣitasmṛtitā] is to be unclear and forget a virtuous object. It is the erroneous mindfulness that accompanies a disturbing emotion, and it is the opposite of being mindful. It forms the support for distraction of mind.
  
  The Abhidharma-samuccaya states:
  
      What is forgetfulness? It is fleeting inspection which is simultaneous with and on the same level as the emotions. It functions as the basis of distraction.
  
  Alexander Berzin explains:
  
      Forgetfulness (brjed-nges). Based on recollection of something toward which we have a disturbing emotion or attitude, forgetfulness is losing our object of focus so that it will wander to that disturbing object. Forgetfulness serves as the basis for mental wandering (rnam-par g.yeng-ba).
  