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

Faith, understanding, practice, and realization are divided into levels of the mind consciousness and levels of the manas. That which ultimately and thoroughly plays the decisive, governing role is the 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-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 "not sincere" refers to the mind consciousness. Only when the manas has deep faith and sincere vows 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 has levels of depth, and vows have levels of strength. Only that which can act as the master has strength; that which cannot act as the master has no strength.