The Principle of Cultivating Meditative Concentration

When the mind consciousness first sits on the cushion, it prepares for meditative concentration, yet after sitting for a long time it still cannot settle down and remains fretful and frustrated. Only after the manas is tethered, so that it no longer runs wildly about, does the mind consciousness gradually settle into concentration. How does the mind consciousness tether the manas?

When the mind consciousness wants to cultivate concentration, it forcibly gathers the mind at one point, thereby countering the manas' wild scrambling after objects. Over time, the manas realizes that such wild scrambling is useless, and that the six consciousnesses are unwilling to comply with it, so the manas slowly settles down. Only then can the mind consciousness truly attain concentration.

The mind consciousness has very strong discriminating wisdom; it knows the various faults of a scattered and distracted mind, and thereby gives rise to the desire to cultivate concentration. At this point, it can tether the manas by forcibly gathering the mind at one point, allowing the manas to gradually become obedient and be tamed. Only when the manas first attains tranquility can the mind consciousness truly settle into concentration; but for the manas to attain tranquility, it must first rely on the mind consciousness' permeation and the gathering of the mind at one point. The two complement each other—without the cooperation of either one, the mind cannot settle down.

Only after the manas-bull has been gradually tamed by the mind consciousness—no longer eating grass indiscriminately or trampling on others' seedlings and crops—can the mind consciousness be at ease. The mind consciousness is the herd-boy riding on the back of the manas-bull. When the herd-boy of the mind consciousness points from afar to the Apricot Blossom Village, the manas-bull carries the herd-boy slowly toward the Apricot Blossom Village—such is the study of Buddhism. The mind consciousness subdues the manas in order to let the manas lead oneself along the right path, because the mind consciousness, riding on the back of the manas-bull, has no autonomy of its own and cannot dismount to walk alone; it must rely on the manas to reach its destination.