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The mental factors associated with the manas (seventh consciousness) are the dharmas possessed by the seventh consciousness, representing the trajectory of mental activities during its operation. Verifying the mental factors of the manas is extremely difficult. The direct observation and practice (pratyakṣa) of the manas belong to the wisdom realm of Bodhisattvas on the grounds (bhūmi); even those who have attained enlightenment cannot directly observe it and can only approximate a partial understanding. For unenlightened ordinary beings, it is entirely impossible to directly observe the mental operations of the manas. The mental factors of the manas are highly complex. All karmic retributions of good and evil for sentient beings since beginningless time are accomplished through the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of the manas. Whether it is the retribution experienced by ordinary beings in the three virtuous paths or the three evil paths, or the sublime fruition attained by the four types of noble ones—Arhats, Pratyekabuddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas—all are accomplished solely through the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of the manas. The vast difference in retribution, ranging from hellish states to Buddhahood, is entirely due to distinctions in the mental factors of the manas. Since the mental factors of the manas differ so greatly among various sentient beings, we must separately describe the various mental factors of the manas according to different categories of beings, rather than generalizing them uniformly. The mental factors of the manas are not immutable; the process of spiritual practice is precisely the process of transforming and altering these mental factors. All ignorance (avidyā) resides in the manas. If the manas does not realize the Dharma, it cannot eradicate ignorance. Eliminating the ignorance of the sixth consciousness (mano-vijñāna) is ineffective and changes nothing. The cultivation and realization of all dharmas must reach the mental factors of the manas to resolve fundamental issues.
