Only by Realizing Manas Can One Transcend Illusions

Discovering the truth cannot be accomplished by the mental consciousness alone; it must involve the simultaneous realization of the true reality of the dharma realm by the mental faculty (manas). Only when the mental faculty attains this realization can one transcend illusory appearances, for only the mental faculty can direct the six consciousnesses to reject false appearances and distance themselves from illusion. The mental consciousness lacks this authority; it cannot exercise mastery. When the mental faculty realizes the illusory nature of appearances, it simultaneously gains the capacity to consciously distance itself from them. Mere realization by the mental consciousness alone is insufficient. As long as the mental faculty remains bound to illusory appearances at every moment, every second, every instant, the mental consciousness cannot detach from false appearances, and physical, verbal, and mental actions cannot be transformed.

The mental faculty is like a tethering stake for a horse. Even if the mental consciousness is permitted to gallop east and west, it must still circle around the pillar of the mental faculty and is not allowed to stray far. If the tethering stake of the mental faculty were to move or shift about constantly, could the wild horses of the six consciousnesses possibly remain fixed in one place without following the mental faculty’s movement? It is fundamentally impossible. Therefore, the true efficacy of Buddhist practice lies precisely in its work upon the mental faculty; only this constitutes genuine accomplishment and can transform one’s body and mind.