How to Abandon Vijñāna and Utilize Indriya

Some say that the "root" in "relinquishing consciousness to use the root" refers to the root nature of sentient beings; in fact, it refers to the manas (the mental faculty). Root nature also denotes the functional role of consciousness; apart from consciousness, root nature cannot be discussed. Wholesome roots and root nature generally refer to the innate wisdom of the seventh consciousness, the manas.

The practice of relinquishing consciousness to use the root is typically accessible during meditation. One relinquishes the six consciousnesses—especially the emotional thoughts, intellectual interpretations, pondering, speculation, analysis, reasoning, comparison, and judgment of the mental consciousness—and exclusively employs the contemplative nature of the manas. Only then can one realize the Way. After realization, subsequent cultivation also relies as much as possible on the manas. Using the manas is direct and profound, appearing straightforward, upright, pure, genuine, and pristine. It accomplishes all tasks, fulfilling what is said and done, and sometimes achieving without necessarily speaking.

Without meditative concentration (dhyāna), it is difficult to engage the manas. One relies instead on the reasoning and intellectual understanding of consciousness, which is effortless but superficial. Understanding occurs far more quickly than realization, yet it remains ineffective. Without samādhi (deep concentration), there is no liberation, and birth and death remain unresolved. Once consciousness ceases, it becomes obsolete. The deeper the meditative concentration, the more the manas is employed, the greater its power, the more effectively it resolves issues, and the deeper the samādhi becomes. With deeper samādhi, wisdom becomes increasingly lucid and transcendent, and the power of liberation grows stronger.