The Attainment of Any Dharma Is Related to the Manas

On the side of the Small Vehicle, one must eliminate self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi); the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment must be cultivated to completion, the seven factors of enlightenment must be fulfilled, and the Noble Eightfold Path must be fulfilled. When the enlightenment factor of joy and the enlightenment factor of tranquility appear, followed by the enlightenment factor of meditative concentration manifesting—these are all inseparable from dhyāna and samādhi, and all belong to meditative concentration.

In the process of contemplating the Buddhadharma, there should arise the phenomena of tranquility and pliancy of body and mind, and inner joy; this is the content of the seven factors of enlightenment. The Buddhadharma has already entered the mind and gained a certain degree of acceptance, though not yet complete; this can also be called the warmth sign (ūṣma-gata) of the four applications of vehemence manifesting.

It now appears that indeed the realization of any dharma is related to the manas, and related to samādhi. The seven factors of enlightenment illustrate precisely 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; when the mind consciousness alone realizes it, there is no great wisdom—it is merely the talk of a student.

The seven factors of enlightenment are excellent evidence. Within the Noble Eightfold Path there is samādhi; "right" mainly refers to the manas being turned around, so that as the master it decides that all actions are right. If the manas has not been corrected, there is no Noble Eightfold Path.