The Origin of Merit and Wisdom

We are generally born with certain blessings, thereby destined to enjoy fortune in the mother's womb, and to begin enjoying blessings from birth or at certain stages thereafter. This is the blessing brought by the seventh consciousness, the manas. The seeds are stored in the eighth consciousness, the ālaya-vijñāna, to which the manas corresponds. The sixth consciousness, the manovijñāna, arises postnatally; it does not come from a past life. Since it neither accumulates blessings in the womb nor during youth, it possesses no blessings itself but can enjoy them. Innate blessings and wisdom are brought by the manas for the manovijñāna to enjoy. When the present-life manovijñāna cooperates with the manas to cultivate blessings and wisdom anew, and the karmic seeds ripen, the present-life consciousness receives the wholesome retribution of blessings and wisdom. When the karmic seeds do not ripen, the consciousness of future lives will enjoy the karmic retribution of blessings and wisdom.

Likewise, the innate destiny of lacking blessings and wisdom is also brought by the manas, which corresponds to seeds of meager blessings, resulting in a fate of poverty, low status, and profound suffering. The karmic retribution is borne by the manovijñāna. When the present-life manovijñāna again cooperates with the manas to commit unwholesome karmic deeds, and the karmic seeds ripen, the present-life consciousness suffers the unwholesome retribution. When the karmic seeds do not ripen, the consciousness of future lives will suffer the unwholesome retribution.