The Seven Consciousnesses All Possess the Mental Factor of Determination (adhimokṣa)

Determination (adhimokṣa) means that the conscious mind, with respect to the dharmas it contacts, can understand and comprehend them as they truly are—the most reasonable understanding, the most thorough understanding—without misinterpreting or falsely interpreting them, and without misunderstanding. If one misinterprets and cannot attain determination, then one cannot make correct and error-free decisions, and one's actions and conduct will surely be wrong, inevitably bringing serious consequences. If, when I teach the Dharma, you are never able to attain determination, then I have taught in vain and you have learned in vain, with no result—and perhaps misunderstandings may even arise. If someone talks with you and you cannot attain determination, you will distort the other person's meaning and be unable to make a reasonable and normal response; the two of you cannot communicate normally, and the exchange is useless. In this way, people cannot communicate and interact with one another, and cannot live in the same space.

Among the seven consciousnesses, whichever consciousness lacks determination cannot correctly interpret the corresponding dharmas it faces, and cannot make correct and appropriate decisions; the result is like a blind person who cannot walk—the conscious mind cannot function normally. The five sense consciousnesses also possess determination. Can the five sense consciousnesses understand the Buddha's teachings? Even animals' conscious minds possess determination—do animals all study Buddhism? If animals' power of determination were entirely lower than that of humans, how could they capture prey accurately and in a timely manner? How could they survive? In fact, give your pet dog a glance or a facial expression, and it will understand in an instant, executing the command without a word—and humans are even more so. The bodily, verbal, and mental actions of all sentient beings are decided by the manas. Since it can make correct decisions and enable the five-aggregate body to function normally, the manas must possess the mental factor of determination. Not only do the six consciousnesses possess determination, but the manas has even greater power of determination than the five sense consciousnesses, and is far more nimble than they are.