The Difference Between Understanding and Realization

The truth understood by the mind consciousness and the truth realized by the manas through contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) in meditative concentration (samādhi) are vastly different. The former, even though one may talk about it at great length, write piles of books, and have crowds of disciples, has no experiential benefit of merit (puṇya-bala), no practical value, cannot eradicate ignorance, cannot resolve birth and death, and cannot free one from the bondage of afflictions. The latter—such a person may not talk about it at great length, may not teach the Dharma or write articles, and may not have even a single disciple, yet his mind is liberated, the end of birth and death can be expected. His influence and edifying power are immense, his energy field is extremely strong, and his power to gather in and transform others is also strong; his word carries the weight of nine tripods, and imperceptibly he delivers sentient beings and gathers them in—only without any deliberate intent. Sentient beings, imperceptibly, can perceive this power and majestic virtue, and unintentionally are transformed by it.

When one comes into contact with information, with truth, and the six consciousnesses have not understood it—having no idea what it means—how can the truth and the information be effectively and completely transmitted to the manas? Without meditative concentration, how can the six consciousnesses hand the truth and information over to the manas? Without meditative concentration, how can the manas absorb and digest these truths and information? If the manas cannot absorb and digest them, how can ignorance be eliminated and the mind be transformed into illumination? If the manas is not illuminated, how can it abandon grasping and attain liberation?