The Process of Studying and Practicing the Buddha-Dharma Is More Important Than the Result

The observation and thinking of the mind consciousness, in both process and result, can influence the manas, causing the manas to become convinced; it likewise has the same thinking and mindfulness. As long as the thinking and mindfulness of the manas are accomplished, all dharmas will surely be accomplished, because the tathāgatagarbha supports them. Everything the mind consciousness does is nothing more than perfuming, influencing, and changing the manas; apart from this, it has no real significance, for it does not make the decisions—it is not the boss. Behind the boss there is a chief executive, and this one is the most powerful.

Therefore, when we study and practice the Buddhadharma, we must engage in deliberation (manana); the deeper and more detailed, the better, and the more comprehensive, the better. This process is precisely the process of letting the manas understand and confirm. Without a process, the manas cannot confirm, and nothing can be accomplished. Hence the process is more important than the result. Many people, in learning the Dharma, want only the result and not the process—how then could they realize the Buddhadharma in actual practice, and thereby transform themselves and transform everything?