What Is Actual Realization?

Realization means that the manas personally attains realization. Realization does not only refer to the realization of seeing one's true mind and one's nature; many dharmas require realization, whether they are Buddhist dharmas or worldly dharmas—it is so in all cases. When the manas attains a dharma, it is called personal realization: it is personally verified, not relayed or transmitted by the mind consciousness, not something the mind consciousness has heard secondhand, not something the mind consciousness has learned. Any dharma not realized by the manas is false realization. Since all realization is related to the manas, the manas is the key link for obtaining all dharmas, and there must surely be more secrets and dharma meanings within it.

Both the elimination of self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) and enlightenment are attained by the manas; they are realized by the manas. The mind consciousness's "realization" is false realization. Even after seeing one's true mind, there are still many, many dharmas that need to be realized. But no matter what dharma it is, as long as the manas accepts and confirms it, it is realization—including worldly dharmas. The operation of every dharma involves the manas. If there is no manas in realization, if the manas has not realized it, this is called "not touching the ground with one's heels"—the mind is not settled. The manas still has ignorance (avidyā) and lacks wisdom; such a person is nothing but an ordinary being (pṛthagjana).