The Distinction Between Contemplative Awareness-Mentation and Manifested Phenomena-Designative Terms

Awareness and observation are the awareness and observation of consciousness, and thought processes are also the thought processes of consciousness. Consciousness additionally possesses the function and capacity to manifest the realms of the six dusts (objects of the senses) through language and words. From awareness and observation, thought processes can arise; thought processes can give birth to language and words; with language and words, one can express and manifest realms. However, the initial awareness and observation are without language or words, and the deepest, most subtle awareness and observation are also without language or words. Thought processes involving language and words are coarser and more superficial, lacking subtlety. When consciousness is without language, words, awareness, or observation, this state and the state of the mental faculty (manas) without language or words are extremely difficult to distinguish from one another; light and darkness intermingled, it is almost impossible to distinguish one from the other.