The Direct Perception and Discernment of the Six Consciousnesses (Part 3)

When the ear hears sounds, the ear consciousness directly perceives the volume and vibrational frequency of the sounds. The mind consciousness also possesses direct perception regarding sounds, and its perceived content is far richer than that perceived by the ear consciousness. The directly perceived objects by the mind consciousness are the subtle sense-data of the currently transmitted sounds; it is not recalling sounds heard in the past, nor is it imagining sounds that have not actually appeared. The mind consciousness can apprehend the meaning of sounds without needing to compare or analyze them; this is the direct perception of the mind consciousness. For example, upon hearing the sound of speech, the mind consciousness immediately knows the source, timbre, content, and other information of the sound, making accurate judgments; this is direct perception. The mind consciousness may also engage in inferential perception, using thinking, reasoning, judgment, comparison, and other methods to perceive the meaning of the sounds, such as the hidden purposes and intentions of the speaker. The mind consciousness sometimes perceives correctly and sometimes perceives erroneously; when perception is erroneous, it is completely erroneous perception.

In another case, such as hearing the sounds of wind and rain, the ear consciousness directly perceives the vibration of the wind and rain sounds and the impact and effect of the sound waves on the eardrum and tympanic membrane. The mind consciousness, however, perceives aspects such as the loudness, pitch, source, direction, and urgency of the wind and rain sounds. The mind consciousness directly perceives these aspects without needing comparison or analysis; this is direct perception. But sometimes there are instances of comparison, analysis, thinking, and reasoning, where the mind consciousness must rely on comparative and imaginative thinking to discern clearly; this is inferential perception. If the perception is erroneous, it is completely erroneous perception. The mind consciousness can engage in inferential and erroneous perception independently, without the participation of the ear consciousness. When the mind consciousness is perceiving, if the ear consciousness is not currently functioning, the mind consciousness cannot perceive sounds; both consciousnesses must coexist simultaneously to directly perceive sounds. Therefore, for the mind consciousness to have direct perception regarding the five sense objects, the participation of the first five consciousnesses is always necessary.