How to Determine Whether a Conclusion Is Derived Through the Mind Consciousness's Analysis or Through the Manas's Deliberation

Is "1+1 equals 2" a conclusion reached through thinking with the mind consciousness, or a conclusion derived through the deliberation (manana) of the manas? If you can be very certain of the conclusion that 1+1=2, with sound reasoning, clearly and distinctly knowing the principle behind it, then it is a conclusion reached by the manas. If you can calculate that 1+1=2, but do not know what the principle behind it is, cannot explain it clearly, and simply know it as a conclusion, then it is a conclusion that the mind consciousness arrived at by referencing or comparing against the theories it has learned—much like rote memorization. Otherwise, why would scientists still need to investigate deeply why 1+1 equals 2? Of all the knowledge we have learned from elementary school through university, how much of it has actually been verified through personal realization? Although we pass every exam, perhaps even scoring a perfect hundred, what exams test is the understanding and memorization of knowledge, the amount of knowledge one has grasped; very little of it tests realization through practice. Only the content of laboratory work involves verification through practice, and only after entering society does one encounter verification through practice. That is why many top students often fail to adapt well after entering society, unable to keep up with its pace, unable to apply what they have learned.

Conclusions derived solely through the mind consciousness's own thinking and analysis cannot eliminate doubt; when conditions arise, doubts will multiply, and one will no longer trust one's former conclusions. Therefore, conclusions reached through the mind consciousness's thinking and analysis are not firm. When the master has doubts, the master makes the decisions; when the master has his own position, at critical moments he will reject and discard the assistant's conclusions. This is precisely why many people who have realized the fruits and awakened to the true mind through the mind consciousness alone keep regressing. The mind consciousness's thinking and analysis can proceed without the support of meditative concentration, and can occur in a scattered, distracted state of mind; but the more meditative concentration there is, the more refined, accurate, precise, and accordant with principle the mind consciousness's thinking becomes. Yet no matter how refined, accurate, and accordant with principle it is, it is still not a conclusion the manas has reached on its own, and therefore it is not called firsthand realization. It lacks the virtue of severing, offers no true benefit, and cannot withstand birth and death.

The thinking of the mind consciousness can usually be perceived and observed by the mind consciousness itself, and can be discovered by it; compared with the manas's deliberation, it is somewhat shallower and coarser. The manas's deliberation is relatively deep and hidden, not easily discovered, yet it can continue thought after thought without interruption. Only when doubt is extremely deep will the manas engage in deliberation in order to resolve the doubt. This brings us to meditative concentration: where there is continuity thought after thought, there is meditative concentration. Being able to remain settled on the investigation of one's doubt is itself concentration. No matter when, no matter what one is doing, whether awake or asleep, the question remains in the mind; if one cannot resolve it, one may even become agitated, unable to eat or sleep well, as if one had lost one's soul.

When the mind consciousness is coarse, it has no awareness or perception of the manas's deliberation and cannot detect it; it cannot discover the affairs within one's own mind—one does not know what one truly wants or what one truly wishes to do, and cannot grasp one's own thoughts. That is why so many people cannot discover the manas, do not understand the manas, cannot master the manas, and cannot observe the manas. To deliberate with the manas, one must have meditative concentration, and the deeper the better. It is best if distractions from other miscellaneous affairs can be eliminated; ideally, even the six consciousnesses should not disturb the manas, but simply cooperate with it, gently and subtly discerning, without provoking scattered thoughts in the manas.