Faith, Understanding, Practice, and Realization of the Mind Consciousness and of the Manas

Faith, understanding, practice, and realization exist at two levels: the level of the mind consciousness and the level of the manas. What ultimately and thoroughly plays the decisive, governing role is faith, understanding, practice, and realization at the level of the manas.

If only the mind consciousness has faith, the manas cannot take action, cannot practice diligently, and cannot realize the Buddha's Dharma. Only when the manas has faith is it true faith; if the manas does not believe, genuine practice cannot begin.

"Deep" refers to the manas, while "shallow" refers to the mind consciousness. "Sincere" refers to the manas, while "insincere" refers to the mind consciousness. Only when the manas has deep faith and sincere aspiration toward the land of bliss (Sukhāvatī) can one be reborn in the land of bliss. If only the mind consciousness believes that the land of bliss exists but the manas does not believe, one cannot go there; whether one goes or not is decided by the manas.

Therefore, faith is spoken of as having levels of depth, and aspiration is spoken of as having levels of strength. Only that which can act as the master has strength; that which cannot act as the master has no strength.