The Mental Engagement Factor Is the First to Activate in the Seed State

The Tathāgatagarbha manifests the six dusts—form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and dharmas—at the supramundane faculties located in the hindbrain. It is certain that the first five dusts manifest first. These five coarse dusts—form, sound, smell, taste, and touch—initially manifest as coarse aggregates to be discerned by the first five consciousnesses. Beyond these coarse five dusts, subtle dharma dust, known as dharmāyatana-prapti-rūpa (form included in the mental base), manifests subsequently. When the faculties and dusts make contact, the six consciousnesses arise. The interaction of faculties, dusts, and consciousnesses produces contact, enabling the six consciousnesses to discern the six dusts. Since the coarse forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches manifest first, the five faculties naturally contact the five dusts first. It is certain that the first five consciousnesses arise first to discern the five coarse dusts, followed in the next instant by the manifestation of subtle dharma dust. Only when the manas (seventh consciousness) contacts the dharma dust can the mental consciousness (sixth consciousness) arise to discern the dharma dust. Thus, the mental consciousness necessarily arises after the first five consciousnesses.

This constitutes the first instant: the first five consciousnesses discern the coarse forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. The second instant is when the mental consciousness discerns the subtle dharmāyatana-prapti-rūpa. Therefore, the first instant involves the five consciousnesses, the second instant involves the mental consciousness, and the third instant involves the combined operation of the five consciousnesses and the mental consciousness jointly discerning the six dusts and dharmas. Thereafter, both consciousnesses continue to operate together to discern the six dusts and dharmas until the discernment activity regarding that dharma concludes.

The Cheng Weishi Lun (Treatise on the Establishment of Consciousness-Only) states that the initial mental factor of attention (manaskāra) of the six consciousnesses does not arise after the birth of the six consciousnesses. The same applies to the seventh consciousness: the initial attention when discerning the six dusts must begin first at the seed stage. After attention occurs at the seed stage, the consciousness seeds manifest to form consciousness, and the six consciousnesses begin to operate. The manifestation of consciousness seeds must have a direction and location; there must be an objective for their manifestation. They cannot manifest randomly without aim, for if they did, the attention of the manas would be rendered useless. If the six consciousnesses were to discern whatever dharmas they encountered, the lives of sentient beings would certainly be chaotic and disordered, and nothing could be accomplished. If there were no attention at the seed stage—if the seeds were not directed toward a specific dharma—where would the consciousness seeds manifest? The consciousness seeds must have a direction and location for manifestation, which must be determined at the seed stage. Therefore, the mental factor of attention functions first at the seed stage.