The Eight Conditioned Minds

The functionally discerning mind refers to the eight consciousnesses, all of which are functionally discerning minds. The eye consciousness functionally discerns forms, possessing the nature of discrimination, awareness, and deliberation. The ear consciousness functionally discerns sounds, possessing the nature of discrimination, awareness, and deliberation. The nose consciousness functionally discerns olfactory objects, possessing the nature of discrimination, awareness, and deliberation. The tongue consciousness functionally discerns taste objects, possessing the nature of discrimination, awareness, and deliberation. The body consciousness functionally discerns tactile objects, possessing the nature of discrimination, awareness, and deliberation. The mental consciousness functionally discerns mental objects, possessing the nature of discrimination, awareness, and deliberation. The mind faculty (manas) also cognizes mental objects, possessing the nature of cognition and deliberation. The eighth consciousness functionally discerns all dharmas, including the physical body, the material world, and the realm of objects; it is aware of the mental activities of the seven consciousnesses, perceives karmic seeds, and has the functioning of the mental factor of deliberation (cetanā). Thus, it is capable of both functionally discerning and deliberating.