The Heedlessness of the Seventh Consciousness

Modern people are too attached to worldly affairs, which is why they perceive everything in the world as favorable. Those whose minds are not weary of the world are all like this; they fail to see the suffering and dark aspects of the world precisely because their craving is heavy. Whether a person’s mind is inclined toward the mundane or detached from it is expressed through their speech, yet they themselves remain unaware. Because sentient beings are attached to worldly affairs, their six sense faculties and six consciousnesses become heedless. The heedlessness of the eye consciousness manifests as looking at forms freely; the heedlessness of the ear consciousness manifests as listening to sounds freely; the heedlessness of the nose consciousness manifests as delighting in fragrances and disliking foul odors; the heedlessness of the tongue consciousness manifests as craving delicious flavors; the heedlessness of the body consciousness manifests as seeking comfort and ease; the heedlessness of the mental consciousness manifests as distraction, dullness, and restlessness; the heedlessness of the mental faculty manifests as clinging and grasping everywhere. The Arhats’ six sense faculties are never heedless; they absolutely do not look, listen, smell, taste, or touch indiscriminately, nor does their mental consciousness engage in chaotic thinking.

Some people always enjoy eating and drinking, delighting in delicious flavors—this is the joint heedlessness of the tongue consciousness and mental consciousness. Some people always enjoy smelling fragrances—this is the joint heedlessness of the nose consciousness and mental consciousness. Some people always enjoy wearing fine clothes, sleeping on comfortable beds, and seeking comfort in all things—this is the joint heedlessness of the body consciousness and mental consciousness. Some people always enjoy reminiscing about the past or clinging to the future—this is the heedlessness of the mental consciousness. Some people always enjoy clinging to every matter—this is the heedlessness of the mental faculty. Learn from our eighth consciousness: it has no attachments whatsoever, the mind constantly abides in concentration, without moments of greed, without moments of hatred, without moments of delusion, without self-view, yet it does not act as the master. It passes the days according to conditions, yet there are no days to pass.