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The mental factors (caittas) of the manas are the dharmas possessed by the seventh consciousness; they are the trajectory of His mental activities in the course of His functioning. The mental factors of the manas are difficult to verify. The direct-perception contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) of the manas is the wisdom realm of bodhisattvas who have attained the bhūmis; even those who have attained enlightenment can only understand it in a similar manner and cannot engage in direct-perception contemplative practice, while unenlightened ordinary beings are unable to directly observe the functioning of the manas. The mental factors of the manas are very complex. The wholesome and unwholesome karmic retributions of all sentient beings since beginningless kalpas have all been accomplished through the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of the manas; whether it is the karmic retribution of ordinary beings in wholesome or unwholesome destinies, or the sublime retributions of the four kinds of noble ones—from hell to Buddhahood, the differences in retribution are immense, and all without exception are accomplished by the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of the manas. Since this is so, according to the different kinds of sentient beings, the various mental factors of the manas must be explained separately and cannot be generalized. The mental factors of the manas are not fixed and unchanging; the process of cultivation is precisely the process of turning around and transforming these mental factors. All ignorance resides in the manas; if He does not realize the Dharma, ignorance cannot be eradicated. Eradicating the ignorance of the mind consciousness is useless; the cultivation and realization of all dharmas must touch upon the mental factors of the manas in order to resolve the root.
