Seeing Is Believing, Hearing Is Deceiving

Question: Among the first seven consciousnesses, the true master of the house is the manas (mind-root). Ordinary people believe that it is the manovijñāna (consciousness) that is in charge, thinking that whatever the consciousness comprehends and approves of constitutes their own realm of wisdom. However, the matter of severing the view of self and attaining the fruit of realization, or even realizing the enlightened mind, is no trivial affair. It requires the manas to deny its own reality, which fundamentally contradicts the deep-seated view of self and afflictions of self-attachment accumulated by the manas over countless lifetimes. No matter how much the consciousness contemplates the Buddha Dharma and cultivates correct knowledge and views, its effect on the manas is minimal. In this matter, the most persuasive approach is to enable the manas to engage in direct perception (pratyakṣa). That is, in meditative concentration, allow the manas to directly perceive the illusory, arising-and-ceasing nature of the five aggregates and the seven consciousnesses. Facing the realm of direct perception, the manas has no choice but to acknowledge that the five aggregates are not the self. Only then can it be considered a true severing of the view of self. Realizing the enlightened mind is similar; it also requires the manas to directly perceive the functioning of the Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature) and acknowledge the existence of this true mind.

To use a worldly analogy: Some people, having received materialist education since childhood, when confronted with religious beliefs, karma, rebirth, etc., refuse to believe no matter how much you explain, and may even say you've gone mad. But as soon as someone demonstrates psychic powers, they immediately believe, more fervently than anyone else, as ordinary people generally consider "seeing is believing." Isn't realization similar?

Answer: "Seeing is believing" means the manas attains realization. Not seeing, merely hearing about it, the manas does not believe. From the phrase "seeing is believing, hearing is illusory," we can understand whether it is the consciousness alone that attains realization or whether the manas simultaneously attains it—it is, of course, simultaneous. The phrase "seeing is believing" is used exceptionally well here, as it clearly distinguishes consciousness from manas. True belief comes after realization; without realization, it is merely the consciousness hearing about it, not seeing it. When seeing occurs, the manas believes because it has personally realized it.

By analogy, severing the view of self and realizing selflessness follow the same principle. The manas only acknowledges the realm of direct perception; if the manas does not realize it, does not see it, it does not believe. "Hearing is illusory" means the consciousness hears about it, but the manas does not believe and dares not acknowledge it inwardly. It becomes increasingly clear: with genuine effort, the Buddha Dharma is actually not difficult to realize. Questions that are not understood now will gradually be understood later.

When severing the view of self and realizing the enlightened mind, what is the manas doing? What is its state of mind? What is its mental activity? What is its wisdom? Clarifying this gives birth to great wisdom. Subsequent contemplative practice (vipasyana) will then be like the midday sun, brilliantly illuminating everything, and wisdom will unfold unstoppably. At the moment of severing the view of self and realizing the enlightened mind, it is also the manas that is in charge, because regarding any dharma, it is always the manas that is in charge. When the consciousness engages in contemplative practice, its content is transmitted moment by moment to the manas. However, the manas does not easily agree or believe; not agreeing and not believing means the manas does not understand and has not realized it. As soon as the consciousness presents a fact or a realm of direct perception, the manas immediately agrees and believes, taking charge and saying: "Yes, that's right." Regarding any dharma, at any time, it is the manas that is in charge. It is absolutely impossible that during the severing of the view of self and the realization of the enlightened mind, it would not be in charge. Therefore, severing the view of self and realizing the enlightened mind is the manas directly realizing through direct perception; the manas believes, and the manas makes the decisive judgment. This is beyond doubt.