The Importance of Distinguishing Between Intellectual Understanding and Realization

For those who engage in genuine practice, there is no need to specifically discuss the sixth consciousness (mano-vijñāna), as they will attain realization through direct experience. For those who do not practice, it is essential to explain the distinction between conceptual understanding and genuine realization, to prevent practitioners from being content with mere intellectual comprehension and to urge them toward actual realization. This is a special provision for the restless beings of the Dharma Ending Age, whose minds are exceedingly agitated. They are unwilling to exert diligent effort, unwilling to uphold precepts, and unwilling to cultivate concentration. Even if they wish to uphold precepts or cultivate concentration, environmental factors prevent them from succeeding. Consequently, they cannot engage in contemplative practice and cannot attain genuine realization. They can only read books daily, engaging in intellectual understanding. When this understanding reaches a certain level, they proclaim to others that they have attained realization. Therefore, it is necessary during this special period to teach some unique Dharma methods. Special methods must be taught for special beings—this is what truly corresponds to the capacities of sentient beings and resolves their actual, fundamental problems.