Saṅkhāra

Saṅkhāra is a Buddhist term that means mental fabrications or constructions. It is the idea that our minds are continuously creating thoughts, or fabrications, which shape how we think and behave. Saṅkhāra also includes habits, which can include physical actions as well as mental and emotional responses. For example, if you learn to say “thank you” every time someone gives you a gift, you are creating a saṅkhāra. Over time, you may create more and more saṅkhāra until thank you is your default response.