The Cognitive and Auditory Natures of the Various Consciousnesses

Question: When reciting the Buddha's name during daily practice, apart from being aware of the Buddha's name, there is also a knowing that is aware of the recitation itself. What is this knowing?

When contemplating what the Buddha meant by "sound" and "hearing," one can clearly perceive what the "hearing" that is capable of hearing is. Yet, there is also a "knowing" that is aware of this "hearing." What is this "knowing"?

Answer: The knowing that is aware of the Buddha's name and the sound of recitation is the knowing of the mind consciousness, and it also involves the knowing of the ear consciousness. Reciting the Buddha's name is an activity of the mind consciousness. The knowing that is aware of oneself reciting is still the knowing of the mind consciousness; it is the introspective function of the mind consciousness, specifically the self-witnessing portion of the mind consciousness.

The hearing that is capable of perceiving sound is primarily the hearing nature of the mind consciousness, assisted by the hearing nature of the ear consciousness. The knowing that is aware of the hearing of sound is the knowing of the mind consciousness; it is the introspective function of the mind consciousness, specifically the self-witnessing portion of the mind consciousness.

Certainly, when hearing sound, there are four consciousnesses involved—not only the mind consciousness and ear consciousness, but also the seventh consciousness and the eighth consciousness. All hearing nature is predominantly rooted in the eighth consciousness. However, on the surface, it appears to be the hearing of the mind consciousness and ear consciousness. The hearing nature of the eighth consciousness is extremely subtle and difficult to perceive; similarly, the hearing nature of the seventh consciousness (manas) is equally subtle and difficult to perceive. Ordinary people cannot observe these two types of hearing nature; they can more readily observe the hearing nature of the mind consciousness.