The Influence and Manipulation of the Eight Consciousnesses on the Material Body

When the physical body lacks body consciousness, it can still exhibit faint movements. For instance, when the head of some sentient beings is severed, the body may still writhe. This occurs because when the manas grasps the body, although it cannot regulate the central nervous system of the brain, the spinal nervous system remains present. The manas will then cause the body to writhe by controlling the spinal nervous system, during which body consciousness and mental consciousness may not necessarily participate. Another example is the phenomenon of faint bodily movements during sleep, even in deep sleep, which also belongs to the activity of the nervous system. Talking in one's sleep and the blinking of eyelids are also unconscious activities, where neither mental consciousness nor body consciousness manifests.

Internal bodily activities, such as heartbeat, pulse, respiration, nervous system activity, gastrointestinal peristalsis, digestion and absorption, cellular metabolism, and so forth, are generally autonomously regulated and sustained by the Tathāgatagarbha alone, with the seven consciousnesses often unable to exert influence. The activities of internal organs do not require body consciousness; they continue functioning even during sleep, otherwise, a person would die. Many bodily activities are not governed by body consciousness or mental consciousness, nor can they be controlled by manas. Human birth, aging, sickness, and death are beyond the control of manas, let alone mental consciousness; all are carried out by the Tathāgatagarbha based on karmic seeds. Observing any functional activity within the body, if it does not obey our command or control, it is solely sustained by the Tathāgatagarbha. Blood pressure and body temperature fall into this category—they are not subject to our will, except for those possessing meditative attainments and psychic powers, or those with exceptionally strong mental power.

However, the emotional and mental activities of the seven consciousnesses can influence and alter the functioning of the internal organs of the physical body. Manas can influence and change the Tathāgatagarbha's sustaining function over the physical body. The activities of the six consciousnesses are directed by manas and can also influence the Tathāgatagarbha. The influence and regulation of the seven consciousnesses upon the internal organs of the physical body differ significantly from the Tathāgatagarbha's mode of sustaining, controlling, and regulating them. What is the difference? The Tathāgatagarbha also heeds the sixth and seventh consciousnesses, as well as the five sense consciousnesses; this is why our spiritual practice is effective. Otherwise, everything would remain fixed, rendering spiritual practice useless. Through regular seated meditation, everything within the physical body can be transformed. Spiritual practice primarily involves applying effort at the level of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. When these are well cultivated, earth-shaking changes will occur, culminating in Buddhahood.