Consciousness Thinks as It Thinks, Manas Acts as It Acts

All dharmas are unattainable. The Heart Sutra states: "Due to the attainment of nothing, the Bodhisattva [is realized]." The Diamond Sutra says: "The World-Honored One was prophesied by Dipankara Buddha because his mind attained nothing." Some may then think: Since all dharmas are unattainable, devoid of self and what belongs to self, why even bother with exertion? Even thoughts should cease—simply abide in non-action. When thinking this way, the mind feels exceptionally light and free. However, this state cannot last long; soon, action arises again. When encountering conditions, events, or people, there is no trace of non-action whatsoever.

This is because, prior to realizing the empty nature of all dharmas, the emptiness perceived by the conscious mind holds no power at all. It cannot take charge. Phenomena continue to arise as they always have, utterly unvoided. Though the conscious mind wishes to remain unmoving and non-active, it cannot master the body of the five aggregates. The sovereign mind-root (manas) pursues objectives and desires to act, compelling the conscious mind to comply helplessly. Thus, even though the conscious mind comprehends certain principles, the mind-root remains unenlightened, rendering it impossible to resolve any substantive issues. Therefore, the conscious mind’s realization of fruition and insight into the mind fundamentally changes nothing. Afflictions persist as afflictions, ignorance remains ignorance, and birth-and-death continues as birth-and-death. Only by subduing the sovereign mind-root can all problems be resolved, leading to a transformative upheaval.