Can the First Five Consciousnesses Arise Without the Birth of Consciousness?

Question: Can the first five consciousnesses arise without the arising of mental consciousness?

Answer: When the mind faculty (manas) contacts a dharmic object as a whole—which includes the five sense objects and the mental object (dharma-dhātu)—if the mind faculty simultaneously contacts both the five sense objects and the mental object, and simultaneously discerns both the five sense objects and the mental object, requiring the specific discernment of the six consciousnesses, then the five sense consciousnesses and the mental consciousness arise simultaneously in the same instant (kṣaṇa). If, when the mind faculty contacts a dharmic object, it first discerns the five sense objects in the first kṣaṇa and then discerns the mental object in the second kṣaṇa, then the five sense consciousnesses will arise first in one kṣaṇa, followed by the mental consciousness arising in the second kṣaṇa, after which they simultaneously discern that dharmic object. The five sense consciousnesses and the mental consciousness may discern simultaneously and arise simultaneously, but this does not preclude a difference of one kṣaṇa.

From the perspective of direct experiential observation in meditative concentration (dhyāna), the eye consciousness first discerns the visual characteristics (rūpa) and colors (varṇa). In the second kṣaṇa, the mental consciousness discerns shapes (saṃsthāna) and forms. Subsequently, it discerns manifested characteristics (vijñapti-rūpa) and unmanifested characteristics (avijñapti-rūpa). The ear consciousness first discerns coarse, vibrating sound objects (śabda-dhātu). In the second kṣaṇa, the mental consciousness discerns the volume, distance, and proximity of the sound, followed by discerning its pitch, timbre, category, and so forth.

An object encompasses color, form, and substance. Color is discerned by the eye consciousness through visual characteristics. All other attributes—such as hardness, softness, size, squareness, roundness, texture, etc.—are discerned by the mental consciousness. Any given object consists predominantly of mental objects (dharma-dhātu), with mental consciousness serving as the primary mode of discernment. The five sense consciousnesses and the mental consciousness exist in a parallel relationship; both are utilized by the mind faculty and serve its functions. If the mind faculty does not require them, none can arise.