What Is the Uninterrupted Path of Insight?

After truly realizing the Path, the mind will dwell in the Path with uninterrupted continuity. What does "uninterrupted continuity" mean? Which mind is uninterrupted? Which mind is interrupted? Why can it be interrupted? The eighth consciousness and manas (the mental faculty) are uninterrupted minds, while the first six consciousnesses are interrupted minds. For the realization of the Path to be uninterrupted, manas and the mental consciousness must realize the Path simultaneously; the mental consciousness alone cannot realize it alone. In true realization of the Path, even if the mental consciousness ceases, the fruit of the Path remains. But in false realization, once the mental consciousness ceases or becomes weak and inferior, the fruit of the Path is lost.

True realization of the Path means manas realizes the Path. After manas realizes the Path, the mind forever abides in the Path and will not regress. However, realization by the mental consciousness is not like this. The mental consciousness is an interrupted mind, a mind that cannot be sovereign. If manas does not realize the Path, the mental consciousness will follow the arrangements and directives of manas, failing to recognize the so-called Path, and thus not abide in it. If the mental consciousness then gives rise to doubt, regression will occur. Even if the mental consciousness does not regress, because manas is sovereign everywhere, actions of body, speech, and mind will not change; one remains as before.

Some people, due to realizing the Path with the mental consciousness or mistaking meditative concentration for the Path, frequently sit in meditation to cultivate concentration in order to avoid regression, maintaining the state of concentration to preserve the realized state. Others strive to use the mental consciousness to pull manas along to comply with themselves. But this is ultimately not sustainable; paper cannot contain fire forever, and the truth will eventually be fully exposed. After manas realizes the Path, worldly states hold little attraction for manas and the mental consciousness. The mental consciousness is easily swayed, but once manas recognizes the truth, it becomes extremely difficult to sway regarding the truth; ten oxen cannot pull it back.

Precisely because manas possesses such stubbornness, its erroneous views accumulated over beginningless kalpas are deeply ingrained. Using the correct Dharma to influence manas is not so easy; manas is not readily conditioned. That is why attaining the fruits of the Path is so difficult. Some people have heavy afflictions. Lightly and casually explaining some principles to them is utterly useless. Only after receiving severe retribution, encountering serious setbacks, suffering head broken and blood flowing, might they begin to reflect a little on themselves. Such people are those of inferior capacity—ten oxen cannot pull them back; they cling stubbornly to their views, are inflexible, and enjoy contention.