The Mental Factor of Determination (adhimokṣa-caitta)

All seven consciousnesses possess determination (adhimokṣa) regarding dharmas, because each of the seven consciousnesses has its own corresponding dharmas. If any consciousness cannot attain determination regarding its corresponding dharmas, then that consciousness will be unable to clearly recognize the dharmas it corresponds to, and subsequent operations will not occur, or the subsequent operations will be entirely disordered. Sentient beings would then be unable to live, work, and cultivate normally—nothing could be discussed at all. This is so for the six consciousnesses, and even more so for the seventh consciousness. If the sovereign consciousness cannot attain determination regarding its corresponding dharmas, it is like the whole world falling into chaos; it would be difficult even to be a deluded sentient being. Even bacteria can attain determination regarding the situations they face. As for humans and devas, who are advanced sentient beings—if the seventh consciousness, which acts as the master, cannot attain determination regarding sense objects and other such dharmas, how could it regulate the operation of the five-aggregate body? It cannot direct things in a dazed, muddled way, like a blind cat bumping into a dead rat. Such a five-aggregate body could not survive.

For example, take the matter of a person wanting to buy flowers. Going to the flower market and seeing numerous fresh flowers, one must make a selection. The eye consciousness must have determination regarding the colors of the flowers seen, in order to know what the colors of the fresh flowers are. The mind consciousness must also have determination regarding the fresh flowers, in order to know whether they are vivid and fresh, and whether they are what one wants to buy. The manas must have even stronger determination regarding the fresh flowers; it should be even clearer about the varieties, colors, prices, and other details of the flowers seen and selected by the six consciousnesses, and only then can it finally decide whether to buy or not. If it is not clear, or if it cannot make up its mind, it will continue to let the six consciousnesses select and compare, until everything is completely clear and satisfactory, and only then make the final decision. Only then will the matter of buying fresh flowers come to an end. It is the same with all dharmas: the manas, the seventh consciousness, must be able to attain determination regarding everything discerned by the six consciousnesses, so that it can propel the operation of all dharmas without disorder, enabling the five-aggregate body to live and work normally.