Whether the Self-Validating Cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga) of the Eight Consciousnesses Can Be Present and Operating at All Times

The self-validating cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga) is precisely the power of introspection, the power of illuminating awareness, the power of cognizant awareness. The self-validating cognition of the seventh consciousness cannot appear at all times, because when the power of meditative concentration and the power of wisdom are insufficient, the consciousness will not have the capacity to introspect and reflect back upon its own mind. The eighth consciousness can at all times possess the power of introspection and self-validating cognition, because the concentration and wisdom of the eighth consciousness exist forever, never change, never increase or decrease, and exist without any need for cultivation.

For example, the self-validating cognition of the mind consciousness—constantly illuminating and observing one's own mind—requires very strong power of concentration, and the power of wisdom must also be good. The contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) method taught by the Buddha in the Great Mindfulness Sūtra is precisely the method of illuminating and observing one's own mind: one must know whatever one is doing. With this knowing, the mind has concentration; without knowing, the mind scatters. Why did the Buddha teach in this way? Because the minds of sentient beings are all scattered and distracted, unable to be aware of their own minds. Being aware of one's own mind is self-validating cognition; if one cannot be aware of one's own mind, there is no self-validating cognition.

Those who have the power of introspection and can be aware of their own minds possess, on the one hand, a certain degree of power of wisdom (prajñā-bala), and on the other hand, a certain degree of power of concentration—this is true whether or not one studies Buddhism. Thus each person's wisdom differs: some people understand themselves, while others do not. By the same principle, the other consciousnesses are also like this: their self-validating cognition cannot always be present and operating.

Self-validating cognition is the power of introspection, the ability to observe what one is doing, what one has already done, and what one intends to do. Within this, of course, the perceiving-aspect and the object-aspect cannot be absent, nor can self-cognition (svasaṃvitti) be absent. The "what" of "doing what" is the object-aspect; "doing" is the perceiving-aspect; "doing what" is self-cognition; and knowing what one is doing is self-validating cognition.