Dharmas that the mind consciousness cannot observe do not thereby fail to exist

Entering meditative concentration through contemplation, in deep meditative concentration there appears to be no thought, no ideation, no deliberation on the surface; in fact, although the mind consciousness has no thoughts or deliberations, the manas is still working and deliberating—it is just that the mind consciousness cannot observe it. What the mind consciousness does not know, the dharmas it cannot observe, does not mean they do not exist.

Therefore it is said that the manas has its unique function in the operation of all dharmas; that the mind consciousness cannot observe it does not mean the manas has no function. In investigating Chan, in meditative concentration, in sleep, in a coma—all the functions the manas performs, the operation of the manas's mental factors—although the mind consciousness cannot observe them, this does not mean the manas has no function, nor does it mean the manas has ceased operating.

Some of us lack sufficient wisdom in meditative concentration; regarding the manas's mental factors that we cannot understand or observe, we should not declare that they exist or do not exist, should not say yes or no. Remaining silent and harboring doubt in the mind is what the wise do.

The manas's marvelous functions are extremely numerous, exceeding our current thinking and imagination. Only if we do not cling stubbornly to shallow personal views and are not locked in by established, limited theories will it be possible in the future to observe more of the manas's functions.

In fact, the ultimate point of studying Buddhism and cultivating practice is to fully develop and observe all the functions of the manas and the eighth consciousness, to fully realize them all, and then one becomes a Buddha. Once all the dharmas of the manas and the eighth consciousness have been explored and realized, there is nothing left to cultivate, and one has reached the stage of being beyond training (aśaikṣa) in the Great Vehicle.

Regarding dharmas that one currently lacks the ability to observe and discern, not drawing conclusions lightly means one does not create karma of slander and does not set up obstacles for one's own cultivation of the Path—this is the choice of a wise person. The Buddha often admonished bodhisattvas that they should hear the profound without terror, hear the profound without slandering it, and should abide in patient acceptance of the profound meaning of the Dharma.