The Distinctive Mental Factors of the Mind Base

Anger includes conscious false anger and the true anger of the mind-root. The degree of hatred indicates whether it is true or false hatred. It is not difficult to observe and distinguish the mental factors of the mind-root and consciousness. However, nowadays some people study Buddhism like reciting texts, memorizing everywhere, yet they take it as one hundred percent correct without engaging in contemplation and reflection. If the mind-root lacks decisive understanding, how can it make so many correct choices? Especially the choices of eradicating the view of self and realizing the mind-nature; without decisive understanding, how can the mind-root join consciousness in investigating and ultimately break through the barrier? With all the information provided by consciousness, only when the mind-root has decisive understanding can it correctly discern and make judgments; otherwise, all judgments would be wrong. How could sentient beings live normally?

Even when there is no conscious thinking, if a major event occurs, the mind-root can immediately grasp the seriousness of the matter and make a decision on the spot. Without decisive understanding, there is no wisdom; decisive understanding is the prerequisite for wisdom. No one has precisely explained what the "deliberation" of the mind-root entails or how it operates. It is only said that deliberation means determination, but the specific content of deliberation and how it functions remain even more unknown.

The same applies to the mental factor of mindfulness in the mind-root. Sometimes, when thinking about something at night, and later needing to sleep, that matter keeps recurring in the mind. Consciousness constantly reminds, "Go to sleep early, stop thinking, or you might not wake up tomorrow morning." Yet this control lasts only a short while, and before long, the mind drifts back to that matter, eventually leading to insomnia. The mind-root's tendencies toward clinging, habitual patterns, and attachment are ultimately manifested in mental factors.

To directly and accurately observe the functioning of the mind-root, one must possess the wisdom of Consciousness-Only doctrine, at least at the level of a first-stage bodhisattva's insight. Disputes arise precisely because the mind-root cannot be observed and thus cannot be truly understood. There are no disputes over superficial teachings, as everyone can easily observe them; disputes only occur over what cannot be observed. Otherwise, what would there be to argue about? White is white, black is black. It is only when one cannot distinguish black from white that disputes arise. What mental factors does the mind-root actually possess? Who can truly observe and verify this? The sixth and seventh consciousnesses are both defiled by afflictions, with such heavy obstructions—what ability do they have to make actual observations? If someone could verify it, simply presenting the verification process would put an end to the disputes.

Relying on the Dharma means relying on the true nature of the mind-root's functioning. If one cannot observe the mind-root, how can one define it based on its true nature? How can one truly rely on the actual Dharma of reality? If one cannot rely on the Dharma of reality, then one is relying on persons. Relying on persons contradicts the purpose of Buddhist cultivation and practice, leading to errors and omissions, not aligning with the Buddha's intent, and certainly not attaining the Path.