Mental Factors of the Manas (III)

 The three undefiled trainings of precepts (śīla), meditative concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā) are not only to be cultivated and perfected by the mind consciousness; the essential point is that the manas must also be cultivated along with the mind consciousness and come to possess them. In cultivating the three undefiled trainings of precepts, concentration, and wisdom, if the manas does not keep the precepts, and the mind is scattered, unrestrained, and lax, wishing to commit unwholesome karma, then since the manas is the master, it will certainly cause the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of the six consciousnesses to commit unwholesome karma. Therefore, the precepts primarily aim at restraining the manas. If the manas is not restrained, and only the six consciousnesses are restrained, then in the end the keeping of precepts cannot be accomplished. The six consciousnesses cannot be masters of themselves; if the manas wishes to violate the precepts, the six consciousnesses can do nothing about it and can only obey. If the manas keeps the precepts, the six consciousnesses will inevitably keep the precepts. There is keeping the precepts on the surface, and there is truly keeping the precepts in the mind without violation. Truly keeping the precepts means the manas keeps the precepts without violation and the mind holds to the precepts; keeping the precepts on the surface may be merely pretending to keep the precepts, while the mind is actually violating them.

Only when the manas possesses concentration and is not scattered can it refrain from chasing after objects everywhere, and only then can the six consciousnesses have concentration. If the manas is scattered, it is impossible for the mind consciousness to become concentrated. Only when the manas' mind is settled upon the Buddha's Dharma can the mind consciousness single-mindedly and diligently cultivate practice, remaining settled upon the Buddha's Dharma without wavering; if the manas wavers and is unstable, the mind consciousness can do nothing about it. Concentration arises from precepts, and wisdom arises from concentration. When concentration is strong, both the mind consciousness and the manas can give rise to great wisdom, and finally transform the consciousnesses into wisdom. Without concentration, great wisdom cannot be born, and the consciousnesses cannot be transformed into wisdom.