The Transformation of Vijnana into Jnana

Seeking the manas and observing the manas, it is the consciousness that knows the manas. When the manas perceives numerous dharmas and cannot clearly discern them, it must rely on consciousness for detailed discernment.

However, the manas also possesses a self-witnessing portion, which enables it to discover itself and prove itself. The manas is particularly confident in itself, firmly attached to itself—this is the self-witnessing portion of the manas, defending itself, preserving itself, possessing the ability to introspect.

The manas can introspect itself, observe itself, and know itself, but consciousness remains unaware of this due to its lack of wisdom. Our ability to know all dharmas still stems from the knowing of consciousness; yet consciousness lacks wisdom, so even though all dharmas exist, it does not truly know them.

When the wisdom of consciousness increases, the scope of all known dharmas can expand, allowing it to know more and more. Especially after consciousness turns into wisdom, its wisdom can observe and know the functions of the manas, and discern the functions of the eighth consciousness even more profoundly and subtly. The knowing ability, observing capacity, and wisdom of consciousness only become complete and fully perfected at the stage of Buddhahood, ceasing further growth.