What Is the Application of Mind?

With a focused mind in nurturing flowers, every flower can thrive; with a focused mind in cooking, every dish can be delicious; with a focused mind in making friends, every friend becomes a virtuous companion; with a focused mind in loving others, every person becomes kin; with a focused mind in handling affairs, every matter becomes a good deed; with a focused mind in conducting oneself, every person becomes a good person; with a focused mind in reciting the Buddha’s name, every Buddha becomes a source of merit; with a focused mind in subduing demons, every demon can be eliminated; with a focused mind in seeking the Dharma, every Dharma can illuminate the mind; with a focused mind in practicing meditation, every meditation can reveal true nature; with a focused mind upon a focused mind, every mind becomes non-discernment mind.

All the activities mentioned above involve the discernment mind. Without the functioning of the discernment mind, there would be no activities—no nurturing flowers, no making friends, no conducting oneself or handling affairs, no reciting the Buddha’s name, no practicing meditation. Why, then, must one still apply a focused mind in these activities? What is meant by “applying a focused mind” here?

In all activities of the five aggregates, when the consciousness actively discerns principles while the manas (mental faculty) remains passive and uncomprehending, though the activities of the five aggregates are carried out, the manas is passively led by consciousness, lacking genuine interest or understanding of why such actions are taken. Consequently, it is insincere, not wholehearted, and is also called “non-discernment mind.” This “non-discernment mind” struggles to plant deep seeds. Though actions are performed, the results are unsatisfactory, the effects are suboptimal, and the karmic retribution is slight.

To achieve the best outcome and supreme karmic retribution, consciousness must enable the manas to comprehend the true principles within, imbuing the manas so that it actively and willingly decides to act, taking the leading role. Only then will the effect be favorable, sincere, and wholehearted. With the ālayavijñāna (storehouse consciousness) cooperating, the finest results are produced, planting the best seeds, leading to supreme karmic retribution in future lives.

Some practice meditation, some recite the Buddha’s name, some study the Dharma, some handle affairs, some conduct themselves as people—yet the role played by the manas differs in each case, and thus the results differ. If the manas is not genuinely focused within, remaining in a state of confusion, lacking concentration, or clinging to distractions everywhere, the effect is greatly diminished, and the outcome falls short of expectations.