Does the Seventh Consciousness Manas Possess Wholesome Mental Factors?

If the seventh consciousness lacks faith, the faith of the mental consciousness is false faith and essentially ineffective. If the seventh consciousness lacks diligence, the diligence of the six consciousnesses is false diligence; they cannot sustain diligence for long and will become lax, for the six consciousnesses are directed by the seventh consciousness.

If the seventh consciousness lacks shame and remorse, the shame and remorse of the mental consciousness are false shame and remorse; the seventh consciousness remains unwholesome.

If the seventh consciousness lacks non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion, then there is no need to eradicate the defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion; one would directly attain the third or fourth fruition. Even if the mental consciousness has the defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion, they cannot persist for long, as the mental consciousness is directed by the seventh consciousness. Later, it is stated that the seventh consciousness possesses the defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion—this is self-contradictory.

If the seventh consciousness lacks wrong views, extreme views, view of grasping, and view of clinging to precepts and vows, then there is no need to eradicate these wrong views. These wrong views in the mental consciousness will disappear before long, as the mental consciousness cannot act as the master to determine future rebirth and the cycle of existence.

Most importantly, if the seventh consciousness lacks concentration, the six consciousnesses fundamentally cannot achieve concentration. Even if they momentarily attain true concentration, it quickly scatters. The six consciousnesses must follow the seventh consciousness’s lead. When the seventh consciousness grasps at objects everywhere, the six consciousnesses must discriminate everywhere; they cannot act autonomously. Otherwise, the seventh consciousness would not be the master consciousness.