The Prajñā of Manas Is the Most Crucial

All eight consciousnesses possess the wisdom mental factor. Setting aside the wisdom mental factor of the eighth consciousness for now, among the wisdom mental factors of the first seven consciousnesses, that of the seventh consciousness, manas, is the most crucial and pivotal in cultivation and realization. It represents the fundamental level of wisdom of a sentient being.

Because manas determines the arising and functioning of the six consciousnesses, governs all bodily, verbal, and mental actions of the six consciousnesses, and to some extent determines the wisdom of the six consciousnesses, the first six consciousnesses are subordinate to manas. Therefore, the wisdom of manas plays a decisive role, concerning the life, death, liberation, or bondage in the cycle of birth and death for sentient beings.

If manas lacks wisdom, no matter how wise the six consciousnesses may be, it is of no avail. The karmic actions created by the six consciousnesses are governed by manas. What kind of karmic seeds are formed is determined by the mental activities of manas. What kind of karmic retribution will manifest in future lives is determined by the mental activities of manas. Whether future existences involve the cycle of birth and death or liberation and Buddhahood is determined by the mental activities of manas.

Therefore, the wisdom to cut off the view of self, the wisdom of realization, and all samadhi wisdom are attained through manas. Without the wisdom of manas, cultivation cannot bear fruit, including the attainment of the first fruit (Sotāpanna) and the stage approaching the first fruit (Sotāpannapratipannaka), as well as all transformations during the stage of an ordinary person.