The Function of Mental Intention

Why can a person with good meditative concentration heal another person's illness simply through mental intention? Is it a direct exchange between one eighth consciousness and another? The power of mental intention is primarily the power of mindfulness of the manas, and secondarily also the power of mindfulness of the mind consciousness. When the manas has great power of mindfulness, great mental strength, and firm resolve, and the eighth consciousness cooperates, it will comply with the manas's power of mindfulness and fulfill what the manas thinks, envisions, and wishes. For the manas's power of mindfulness to be great, there must be meditative concentration, so that the manas's energy is entirely focused on one point; only then is its force great, impelling the eighth consciousness to accord with its mind and fulfill its wishes.

If one kills a person through mental intention, one can indeed kill that person; the karma of killing by intention constitutes the karmic offense of killing and carries an evil retribution. If one saves a person through mental intention, one can bring that person back to life; this constitutes wholesome karma and carries a wholesome retribution. If one changes another person through mental intention, one can indeed change that person, and there is karmic retribution. Never provoke a person whose power of mental intention is extremely strong; try instead to accord with them. If you provoke them, without even moving an eyeball they can bring you misfortune—and you will not even know why you are unlucky. Such a person can stand against ten thousand, even a hundred thousand, equivalent to the strength of an army. A powerful force of mental intention arises, first, from merit, second, from the power of meditative concentration, and third, from the power of wisdom. In cultivation, you must rely primarily on yourself, with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as support. Trust in your own strength and gradually reduce your dependence, and you will gradually grow strong.