What Is Determination (adhimokṣa)?

When the conscious mind encounters the dharmas it comes into contact with, it can understand them as they truly are, understand them in the most reasonable way, understand them most thoroughly, without misinterpreting or falsely interpreting them, and without misunderstanding them. If there is misinterpretation and no determination (adhimokṣa), then one cannot make correct and accurate choices, and one's actions and deeds will surely be wrong, inevitably leading to serious consequences.

If I teach the Dharma and you never achieve determination (adhimokṣa), then my teaching is in vain and your learning is in vain, with no result, and perhaps we will simply hold each other back. If someone says something to you and you cannot grasp it with determination, you will distort the other person's meaning and be unable to respond reasonably and appropriately; the two of you cannot communicate, and even if you try, the communication is useless. In this way, people cannot communicate and interact with one another, and cannot live in the same space.

Among the seven consciousnesses, whichever consciousness lacks determination (adhimokṣa), that consciousness cannot correctly interpret the corresponding dharmas and cannot make correct and appropriate choices. The result is like that of a blind person who cannot walk—the conscious mind cannot function normally.