The Manas Can Take the Buddha's Dharma as Its Object Through Unceasing Mental Engagement

Someone says: Uninterrupted mental application seems to be a matter of the dharma penetrating deep into the manas; only the manas can accomplish uninterrupted mental application, moment after moment without letting go. In fact, merit is the inevitable product of the manas' recognition or transformation. As long as the manas genuinely recognizes and takes on the dharma, the merit of realizing the fruit naturally arises, and wisdom arises as well. This is a series of naturally occurring events; the root of realizing the dharma still lies in the manas.

This view is very good. Uninterrupted mental application—"uninterrupted" means without cessation. Only the manas can be mindful of the dharma without interruption, through all six periods of the day and night, from morning to evening, thought after thought without pause. This requires the mind consciousness to cultivate and steep itself in the Buddha's teachings until the imprinting successfully reaches the manas. When the manas regards the Buddha's teachings as important, it will hold the dharma in mind moment after moment, its thoughts never departing from the dharma; one day, it will certainly realize the Buddha's teachings. If the manas does not hold the Buddha's teachings in mind, the mind consciousness's thoughts of the dharma will inevitably be severed, and it will be unable to be mindful of the dharma without interruption.