The Direct Perception Wisdom of Mahāyāna Bodhisattvas

The concept of direct perception, at its most ultimate explanation, should mean possessing genuine wisdom, being able to observe the true facts, being able to see the substance behind surface phenomena, not being deluded by false and illusory appearances, not needing to guess or speculate, and being able to know the essential substance of a matter without deliberating back and forth in comparison. The wisdom of direct perception of Mahāyāna bodhisattvas is inconceivable: upon seeing the arising of a dharma, one can observe how this dharma is brought into operation—from inside to outside, from large to small, everything is fashioned by the eighth consciousness through seeds; it is the functional operation of the eighth consciousness, and in its entirety it is the eighth consciousness. This wisdom is the true contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) wisdom of direct perception; even the wisdom of seeing the mind and enlightenment does not belong to complete wisdom of direct perception.