The Significant Role of Observing Consciousness and Thought

From the phenomena of the veil between rebirths, drunkenness, sleepwalking, and hypnosis, how significant is the function of consciousness? When discussing the manas, one might attribute everything to it while overlooking consciousness. Now, contemplating the function of consciousness is the most crucial step in severing the view of self.

The approach to this issue should be as follows: analyze the various phenomena of the veil between rebirths, identify what these phenomena are, and then observe the roles, characteristics, and importance of consciousness within them. This is called the introspective observation of consciousness, also known as svasaṃvedana (self-cognizing awareness).

Next, sequentially contemplate and analyze the phenomena following drunkenness, observing the function, characteristics, and significance of consciousness through these phenomena. Contemplate and analyze the phenomena during sleepwalking and after awakening, observing the functional traits of consciousness within them and its importance for comprehending the six dusts (objects of the senses). Contemplate and analyze the phenomena during hypnosis and after its conclusion, observing the functional characteristics of consciousness within these phenomena, as well as its significance for differentiating the six dusts.

The above approach teaches one how to fish, rather than merely giving a fish. By mastering the essentials of fishing and learning to apply them, one will become self-reliant in the future.

One must learn to observe, to seek out and analyze phenomena. Observational skill is paramount, relying primarily on the wisdom of consciousness, which also includes the wisdom of the manas. Only when the wisdom of consciousness is first fully developed can the manas enhance and attain wisdom. The wisdom of consciousness precedes that of the manas. Once the manas attains full wisdom, in future lives, the wisdom of the manas will come first, followed by that of consciousness. Consciousness then, by analogy, gives rise to other forms of wisdom, which in turn influence the manas, enabling it to likewise attain other wisdoms. Life after life, this is how the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are gradually transformed step by step, ultimately turning consciousness into wisdom.

Many lack even the wisdom of consciousness. Even when facts and truths are placed plainly before them, they remain blind and unperceiving, utterly foolish. They cannot comprehend even the most obvious and clear phenomena, nor can they make sense of them. Even after being told repeatedly, they still fail to grasp the meaning. If one lacks the capacity for conscious thought, observation, and analysis, then there can be no talk of attaining wisdom, let alone of influencing and nurturing the manas to similarly attain wisdom. Without breaking through this ignorance and delusion, there is no hope whatsoever for liberation.