How to Ensure Direct Realization Rather Than Intellectual Understanding

In the preliminary stages of contemplative practice and investigation, consciousness can engage in extensive contemplation and study of the Dharma principles, grasping their general meaning. Later, when the karmic conditions for Chan investigation are ripe, and upon the foundation of having cultivated meditative concentration (dhyāna), consciousness consolidates the understood Dharma content into a readily comprehensible concept, deeply suspending it within the heart. Applying effort diligently day and night, forgetting to eat or sleep—this is investigation (cānjiū).

Consciousness should engage less in analytical thinking, allowing the manas (intellect root) to do more of the contemplating and weighing itself. This is the most effective method to ensure genuine realization. If consciousness engages in too much analytical thinking, once it knows the answer, it no longer wishes to investigate further. Consequently, the manas gets little opportunity to investigate and can never attain realization. Therefore, if the answer to realizing the mind (ming xin) is casually inquired about or spoken of, once consciousness knows it, the manas can no longer apply effort, making realization impossible. The same applies to the content of eradicating the view of self (duàn wǒjiàn). One should not ask the master to explain it too minutely. If consciousness already knows everything, the manas cannot engage in further contemplation, making the eradication of the view of self very difficult.

Using consciousness for thinking feels tiring, but when the manas applies more mental effort, one does not feel tired. When meditative concentration is very strong, the manas can participate in contemplative observation. Without meditative concentration, the manas cannot get involved and cannot concentrate on contemplating and investigating. The state of doubt (yíqíng) during Chan investigation is precisely the manas single-mindedly striving to understand and find the answer. When the Dharma principles are examined by the manas, once they are clearly examined and passed, realization is attained. Those who prioritize consciousness say the manas is like wood or an ornament, useless. If contemplative investigation truly did not require the manas, I would immediately announce the answer to realization to the whole world, enabling everyone, Buddhist or not, to know the answer, become enlightened, and attain Buddhahood. Could this be done? Absolutely impossible. Each person must eat for themselves to be full; it’s unheard of for thoughts and insights to be interchangeable or replaceable for others.

The word "examine" (shěn) in the phrase "the manas constantly examines and contemplates" (yìgēn héng shěn sī liàng) reveals the mental activity of the manas and exposes the function it performs. This shows that the manas is not useless or merely ornamental; it has a crucially decisive function and is a vibrant and active consciousness. The manas must examine any dharma it encounters; all dharmas discerned by the six consciousnesses must be examined by the manas. If it passes examination, a decision must be made, and it must be processed. So what role does the manas play in Chan investigation? What role does it play in eradicating the view of self? What role does it play in realizing the mind and seeing one's true nature (ming xin jiàn xìng)? What role does it play in realizing all dharmas? In all these, it plays the decisive role.

All dharmas must pass the scrutiny of the manas. If the manas has not examined and approved them, they cannot be processed. When the manas examines, it has its own conscious activity; it must have its own considerations and does not completely obey the six consciousnesses. It does not immediately affirm whatever the six consciousnesses discern. Therefore, everything perceived by the six consciousnesses must be made perfectly clear to the manas. If the manas is not clear, the examination is not qualified, it cannot pass, and the manas cannot make a decision. Both eradicating the view of self and realizing the mind and seeing one's true nature must undergo examination and approval by the manas. If the manas does not agree, one cannot eradicate the view of self or realize the mind and see one's true nature. Consciousness unilaterally claiming to have eradicated the view of self or realized the mind is merely consciousness's own understanding and belief; if the master leader (the manas) does not agree, it does not count. It is unreasonable for consciousness to claim eradication of the view of self or realization of the mind without the leader's approval.