The Scripture of Original Matters, Volume I, Part 2

Original text: I have heard this from the World-Honored One: Bhikkhus, you should know that all unwholesome dharmas in the world, when they arise, all unwholesome categories, all unwholesome kinds, every one of them arises with the mental faculty as the forerunner. Why is this so? Once the mental faculty arises, unwholesome dharmas all follow and arise thereafter.

Explanation: I heard this teaching from the World-Honored One: Bhikkhus, you should know that all evil, unwholesome dharmas in the world, when they arise, all unwholesome categories and kinds, everything arises with the mental faculty as the preceding guide. Why is this said? Once the intention of the mental faculty arises, evil, unwholesome dharmas subsequently arise. This discourse by the World-Honored One is particularly important. It directly points out the significance and dominant position of the mental faculty. It also indicates that all wholesome and unwholesome karmic actions of the six consciousnesses – body, speech, and mind – are entirely guided by the mental faculty; they are all results driven and commanded by the mental faculty. Therefore, the mental faculty possesses all unwholesome mental factors and dharmas, and also possesses all wholesome mental factors and dharmas. If the mental faculty lacks a particular unwholesome mental factor, then there is no need to cultivate that part; for the six consciousnesses, cultivating it would be superfluous because the six consciousnesses are led by the mental faculty. If the mental faculty is defiled, the six consciousnesses cannot be purified; there is no principle of the six consciousnesses being pure alone. The mental faculty is the master of the five aggregates body, the controller of the five aggregates body, the manipulator of the five aggregates body. The mental faculty is heaven. Cultivating the mental faculty well leads to Buddhahood. Failing to cultivate the mental faculty well, one cannot even attain the stage preliminary to the first fruition, cannot realize any Dharma, let alone speak of enlightening the mind, seeing the true nature, becoming a Bodhisattva, or becoming a Buddha.

Original text: At that time, the World-Honored One, restating this meaning, spoke this verse: All unwholesome dharmas arise as causes capable of inducing suffering. All have the mental faculty as the forerunner and arise together with defilements. The mental faculty is the forerunner of dharmas, honored, commanded by the mental faculty. Because the mental faculty is defiled, there is speech and action. Suffering follows this, arising like a wheel turned by the hand.

Explanation: The World-Honored One restated this meaning and spoke the verse: All unwholesome dharmas arising as causes capable of inducing the suffering result all have the mental faculty as the forerunner and arise together with defilements. The mental faculty is the forerunner of all dharmas, all dharmas honor the mental faculty, they are the result of being commanded by the mental faculty. Because the mental faculty is defiled, defiled actions of body, speech, and mind occur, and the suffering result subsequently arises, just as a wheel turns because of a person's hand. Therefore, the karma of killing out of hatred is entirely produced with the hatred of the mental faculty as the forerunner. All kinds of greed and desire are entirely produced with the greed of the mental faculty as the forerunner. All kinds of ignorant karma are produced with the ignorance of the mental faculty as the forerunner. Thus, the mental faculty possesses all unwholesome mental factors, manifesting according to conditions, commanding the six consciousnesses to create unwholesome karma, and subsequently experiencing unwholesome karmic results.

Original text: I have heard this from the World-Honored One: Bhikkhus, you should know that all pure wholesome dharmas in the world, when they arise, wholesome categories, wholesome kinds, every one of them arises with the mental faculty as the forerunner. Why is this so? Once the mental faculty arises, pure wholesome dharmas all follow and arise thereafter. At that time, the World-Honored One, restating this meaning, spoke this verse: All pure wholesome dharmas arise as causes capable of inducing happiness. All have the mental faculty as the forerunner and arise together with wholesome dharmas. The mental faculty is the forerunner of dharmas, honored, commanded by the mental faculty. Because the mental faculty is pure, there is speech and action. Happiness follows this, arising like a shadow following a form.

Explanation: I heard this teaching from the World-Honored One: Bhikkhus, you should know that all pure wholesome dharmas in the world, when they arise, all wholesome categories and kinds arise with the mental faculty as the forerunner inducing their birth. Why is this said? Once the intention of the mental faculty arises, pure wholesome dharmas will all subsequently arise. At that time, the World-Honored One again restated this Dharma meaning and spoke the verse: All pure wholesome dharmas arising as causes capable of inducing the happiness result all have the mental faculty as the forerunner and arise together with wholesome dharmas. The mental faculty is the forerunner of all dharmas, all dharmas honor the mental faculty, being commanded by the mental faculty. Because the mental faculty possesses purity, pure actions of body, speech, and mind are performed, and the happiness result subsequently arises, just as a shadow follows the form. Therefore, the mental faculty possesses all wholesome categories, possesses all wholesome mental factors, manifesting according to conditions. Thus it is also said that the mental faculty has wholesome, unwholesome, and also neutral aspects; it possesses all mental factors. Because the mental faculty is the master of all dharmas, and all dharmas include wholesome dharmas, unwholesome dharmas, and neutral dharmas. These dharmas are all produced through the intention and command of the mental faculty; the intention of the mental faculty thus possesses all mental factors.