Key Points and Significance of Observing Practice in the Consciousness Aggregate

Regarding the skandha of consciousness within the five aggregates (feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness) during contemplation practice, one must contemplate the functions generated by the seeds of consciousness that produce the seven consciousnesses, focusing primarily on the functions of the six consciousnesses. After the seeds of consciousness for feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness are outputted, the six consciousnesses are formed, and only then do the various functions of the six consciousnesses arise.

Once the six consciousnesses arise, there is the experience of feeling. Then, there is the discriminating function of conscious awareness, followed by volitional awareness. There are the functions of the skandha of feeling, the skandha of perception, the skandha of volition, and all the functions of the skandha of consciousness. One must carefully observe each specific function clearly for oneself, not missing a single one. It is crucial to understand that once the seeds of consciousness arise, the conscious mind possesses these functions. Observing this clearly is vital; it enables realization in both the Mahayana and Hinayana paths.

Within the skandha of consciousness, the primary observation is the illusory nature of feeling. Our five aggregates are still dominated by the skandha of feeling. Sentient beings all mistake their sensory experiences as real, centering their bodily, verbal, and mental activities of the five aggregates around these feelings. Observe how this sensory experience is unreal, impermanent, empty, suffering, and not-self. Then proceed to observe the skandha of perception and the skandha of volition. The skandha of perception involves grasping, apprehending appearances, taking forms in the mind, discerning and differentiating, or engaging in various thoughts and contemplations.

The skandha of volition: where there is consciousness, there is volitional activity, because consciousness necessarily operates. Only after consciousness operates do feeling and perception arise, along with discrimination and these functional activities. Once the process of consciousness seeds forming consciousness is clearly observed, realization in both Mahayana and Hinayana paths rests upon this point. The wisdom attained through future realization will be extremely profound. Upon enlightenment, one instantaneously realizes the state of consciousness-only. This realization is far deeper and more penetrating than the enlightenment in Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Realizing the nature of consciousness, the wisdom becomes exceedingly profound, enabling one to swiftly attain the all-knowing wisdom of consciousness-only in the future.