True Cultivation Is Like Rumination

During the day, the old ox stands and walks while grazing; at night, when quiet, it lies down to ruminate, digesting and absorbing nutrients to sustain the needs of its physical body.

The mind consciousness draws abundantly upon all kinds of knowledge amid the activities of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha); when things quiet down, the manas deliberates (manana) carefully, digesting and absorbing them. As a result, meditative concentration (samādhi) and wisdom grow, and progress on the Path advances. True diligent practice should be done in just this way. Do not be satisfied with the coarse theoretical knowledge that the mind consciousness has taken in, which cannot nourish the mind—knowledge does not nourish the Path; actual practice is the right way, and only personal realization is the Path.