The Essential Key to Mastering Body, Speech, and Mind

Managing the mind-root (manas) well enables one to manage the actions of body, speech, and mind arising from the six consciousnesses. The mind-root of an Arhat has long been subdued, with afflictions eradicated; having no attachment or craving for the world, their mind attains liberation starting from the third fruition, and their actions of body, speech, and mind are purified. When going out for alms, they keep their gaze fixed on the ground one foot ahead, eyes lowered and subdued, not looking around or elsewhere. Their eyes do not grasp at forms indiscriminately, and their mind does not give rise to random thoughts, abiding in single-mindedness or non-discrimination. When the eyes unavoidably encounter form objects, they merely recognize the form and cease, not generating sensation or perception, much less grasping. They leave no karmic seeds, experience no further becoming, and their four dignified postures move and inspire both human and celestial beings.

Even if external conditions exert influence, the mental consciousness remains unaffected, and the mind-root is even less susceptible. Even if the mental consciousness stirs slightly, the mind-root remains unmoved, because afflictions have been completely severed. Without needing the mental consciousness to supervise, monitor, or regulate, it instead regulates the mental consciousness. However, ordinary beings who are relatively advanced in practice must constantly and everywhere use their mental consciousness to supervise, regulate, and restrain their mind-root. This is because the mind-root has not been influenced; if left unregulated, it will trample on others' crops, and its inherent nature will be exposed. Therefore, those who always rely on their mental consciousness to remind themselves are still far from true cultivation. As for those whose mental consciousness itself is confused and unclear, they cannot be said to have any cultivation at all. Only after the mind-root has been influenced, and ignorance is eradicated, can the actions of body, speech, and mind gradually become purified, becoming automatic and self-aware, requiring no further vigilance.