The Attainment of Any Dharma Is Related to the Manas

On the side of the Small Vehicle, one must eradicate the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi), the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment must be cultivated to completion, the seven factors of enlightenment must be fulfilled, and the eightfold noble path must be fulfilled. When the enlightenment factor of joy and the enlightenment factor of tranquility appear, followed by the enlightenment factor of concentration manifesting—these are all inseparable from meditative concentration (dhyāna) and all belong to meditative concentration.

In the process of contemplating the Buddha-dharma, there should arise the phenomena of tranquility and ease of body and mind, and inner joy; this is the content of the seven factors of enlightenment. When the Buddha-dharma has entered the mind and gained a certain degree of acceptance, though not yet complete, this can also be called the manifestation of the warmth sign of the four applications of warmth (nirvedha-bhāgīya).

Now it appears that indeed the realization of any dharma is related to the manas, and related to meditative concentration. The seven factors of enlightenment illustrate exactly this situation, and thus there is a scriptural basis from the Buddhist sūtras.

Samādhi and wisdom, and the manas, cannot be separated even for a moment. When the manas realizes it, there is the wisdom of observation; if the mind consciousness alone realizes it, there is no great wisdom—it is merely the learner's talk.

The seven factors of enlightenment are very good evidence. Within the eightfold noble path there is concentration; "right" mainly refers to the manas having turned right, so that as the master it decides that all actions are right. If the manas has not been corrected, then there is no eightfold noble path.