The Uninterrupted Mental Attention of Manas and Buddhist Practice and Realization

Question: Unremitting mental application seems to occur only after the Dharma's meaning has penetrated the manas, and only the manas is capable of such unremitting mental application, holding onto it thought after thought without letting go. Isn't it true that the merit essentially stems from the manas's recognition or the inevitable outcome of its transformation? As long as the manas genuinely recognizes and embraces it, the merit of attaining the fruition naturally arises, and wisdom is also gained. This is a series of naturally occurring events; the root of realizing the Dharma still lies with the manas. Is that correct?

Answer: That's correct. Unremitting mental application means precisely "uninterrupted." Only the manas can continuously rely on the Dharma's meaning without ceasing, at all times, day and night, thought after thought without interruption. This requires the conscious mind (vijñāna) to cultivate the Dharma through repeated exposure, successfully permeating the manas. Once the manas deems the Dharma important, it will then hold onto it unremittingly, its thoughts never leaving the Dharma. One day, it will certainly attain realization of the Dharma. If the manas does not hold onto the Dharma, the conscious mind's focus on the Dharma will inevitably break, unable to rely on the Dharma uninterruptedly.

Using methods like hypnosis can also cause the manas to recognize and accept it, after which the manas undergoes a transformation. The degree to which each person's manas recognizes and attains the Dharma differs, so the resulting impact, transformation, and wisdom also differ. Therefore, fundamental wisdom still fundamentally refers to that which arises from the manas.