Facts Prevail Over Eloquence and Theory

Question: In the theory of Consciousness-Only, mental consciousness is the concomitant basis for the five consciousnesses. Therefore, mental consciousness must arise prior to the five consciousnesses, or simultaneously with them; it cannot arise after them, right?

Answer: In meditative absorption, the actual experience is that the eye-consciousness and ear-consciousness first cognize forms and sounds in one instant, then only subsequently do they perceive the subtle dharmas (phenomena) of those forms and sounds—this is discerned by mental consciousness. This is a fact. Perhaps mental consciousness takes one additional instant to clearly cognize the dharma-objects (mental images), enabling it to recognize what the dharma-objects are. Its time for discernment is one instant longer than that of the five consciousnesses. However, such a short duration is negligible. The vast majority of people without meditative absorption will never discover this fact. Whether in worldly dharmas or Buddhist dharmas, facts always outweigh theories. The purpose of studying Buddhism is to realize the true reality of all dharmas, not to rigidly learn theories without being able to verify them, thereby failing to generate wisdom and unable to attain liberation.