Observing Mental Activities of the Mental Faculty in the Hypnotic State

If a person's consciousness is very weak, its alerting and guiding effect on the mental faculty is minimal. In such a state, if hypnotized, the mental faculty is easily induced by the hypnotist to reveal all known secrets. Conversely, if the mental faculty itself is strong, possessing vigilance and firm willpower, it will not succumb to the hypnotist's suggestions and can safeguard inner secrets. There was a hypnosis case where the hypnotist sought to obtain a person's account password. Exploiting the person's semi-comatose state, where conscious resistance and discernment were extremely low, the hypnotist hypnotized the individual while simultaneously attaching a brainwave monitoring device to their head. This device continuously captured brainwave information to access the person's inner thoughts and secrets, translating the brainwaves into textual information. 

However, this person possessed strong willpower and was prepared in advance. When asked unimportant questions by the hypnotist, they answered truthfully. But when questioned about the crucial password, they initially gave random answers and later remained silent. Nevertheless, thoughts still arose in their mind, so the instrument displayed fluctuations in the person's brainwaves, with electrical signals flashing on the device, and instantly translated the brainwaves into text. However, when it came to the core password question, not only did the person refuse to answer, but they also deliberately discarded their thoughts, shutting down mental activity. Consequently, the brainwaves became flat and unreadable, and naturally, no text could be translated. Despite employing numerous methods, the hypnotist failed to extract the account password. 

What can be observed from this phenomenon? During hypnosis, consciousness is extremely weak, capable only of performing minor discernment functions. The five consciousnesses (related to the senses) are also weak and, together with consciousness, perform minor discernment, transmitting the meaning of the hypnotist's voice to the mental faculty and conveying bodily pain sensations to the mental faculty. Initially, consciousness could still perform weak thinking and analysis. As the depth of unconsciousness increased, consciousness became progressively less lucid until it disappeared. The sensory information transmitted by the six consciousnesses became increasingly unclear, and the auxiliary function of thinking and analysis ceased. At this point, the mental faculty was almost entirely left to face the hypnotist's instructions alone. 

When consciousness functions normally, the mental faculty can heed the opinions and suggestions derived from conscious thinking and analysis. Moreover, conscious thinking largely revolves around the mental faculty, so the instructions the mental faculty follows are essentially its own; it complies with its own thoughts. Under hypnosis, the hypnotist's instructions replace the guidance and suggestions of consciousness. If the mental faculty lacks firm willpower and is successfully hypnotized, it will obey the hypnotist's commands, straightforwardly and unreservedly revealing inner secrets. The relationship between the mental faculty and the six consciousnesses is that of master and servant. The six consciousnesses are responsible for observing and discerning sensory objects, transmitting sensory information, obeying the mental faculty's commands, and expressing the mental faculty's thoughts and views through body, speech, and mind. When the six consciousnesses are very weak, the mental faculty's thoughts and views cannot manifest, and many functions cannot be effectively exercised. However, the mental faculty can still perceive and discern sensory objects and retains its own dominant thoughts. 

After the six consciousnesses weaken or disappear, does the view of self still exist? Is this view of self the same as when the six consciousnesses are present? Does the view of self become more apparent at this time? In fact, the view of self belongs to the mental faculty; consciousness merely adheres to and expresses the mental faculty's view of self. In this case, the person was hypnotized, and the six consciousnesses were weak or absent. Did the mental faculty exhibit a strong view of self and attachment to self? Indeed, it is the mental faculty that constantly upholds the self. Attachment to self originates from the view of self; without the view of self, there is no attachment to self. The mental faculty's strong attachment to self precisely indicates its strong view of self. 

How is language generated? How are brainwaves generated? Why does one become unable to speak when physically weak? Why do brainwaves cease when the body becomes extremely weak? Why does the mental faculty, fearing the leakage of a password, extinguish thoughts, thereby causing brainwaves to disappear? Instrumental measurements reveal that brainwaves precede vocalized language. Vocalized language is a function of consciousness, while brainwaves are entirely a manifestation of the mental faculty having thoughts and ideas. Even without the six consciousnesses, the mental faculty still has mental activity and brainwaves. As soon as the mental faculty has a thought, brainwaves fluctuate. Brainwaves are unrelated to consciousness. The mental faculty directly extinguishes its own thoughts; without thoughts, there are no brainwaves. 

If the body is not weak and has energy, a flow of energy (qi) is generated in the dantian area. When this energy flows upward to the root of the tongue, speech is produced. This indicates that the activities of consciousness are regulated and directed by the mental faculty and revolve around it. When the mental faculty does not wish to speak or express, there is no language. When the mental faculty does not wish to engage the mind, brainwave fluctuations become calm. What does this illustrate? It illustrates that the mental faculty is the master, the king, the ruler, while the six consciousnesses are the servants, the ministers. To capture the rebels, capture the king first. Spiritual practice entails applying effort at the level of the mental faculty; transforming the mental faculty is the paramount way. 

Does the mental faculty possess the mental factor of thought? In the hypnotic state, brainwaves can appear because the mental faculty has mental activity; without mental activity, there are no brainwaves. The desire to achieve a certain aim is the mental factor of desire. Does the mental faculty possess the mental factor of desire? In the hypnotic state, the mental faculty desired to protect the inner secret and extinguished thoughts; this desire to protect is the mental factor of desire. Clearly comprehending and correctly discerning sensory objects is the mental factor of conviction. Does the mental faculty possess the mental factor of conviction? In the hypnotic state, the mental faculty clearly comprehended the meaning of the hypnotist's words and understood the hypnotist's purpose; this is the mental factor of conviction. The mental faculty's unwavering protection of the inner secret is the mental factor of concentration. To protect the secret, it shut down mental thoughts; this is the mental faculty's mental factor of wisdom. All defilement mental factors are also primarily centered on the mental faculty. The defilements of consciousness revolve around the mental faculty; they are insignificant, easily arising and easily ceasing. As long as the mental faculty is free from defilements, consciousness naturally will not have defilements. How can servants do what the king forbids?

Consider also wartime periods: Communist Party members captured by the enemy endured severe torture and interrogation, suffering inhuman physical and mental torment. Those with strong willpower did not betray or sell out the organization even unto death. Was this the strength of consciousness or the strength of the mental faculty? Does consciousness hold beliefs or does the mental faculty hold beliefs? Does hatred belong to consciousness or to the mental faculty? All dharmas reside in the mental faculty. The mental faculty may intensely hate a person, yet externally use the six consciousnesses to disguise itself, appearing to like that person. However, a wise person can immediately discern that deep down it is hatred, not liking. In the hypnotic state, the dominant position of the mental faculty and the mental factors are clearly observable; the functional role of the mental faculty is of utmost importance.