The Mental Power of Manas Equals Karma

The wisdom power and mindfulness power of the manas (the seventh consciousness) are inherently inseparable from concentration power; these three are absolutely indivisible. At the moment of death, during the intermediate state (bardo), and after rebirth, everything relies on the wisdom power of the manas. If the wisdom power of the manas is strong, its mindfulness power will also be strong. At the time of death, rebirth is determined by the mindfulness power of the manas, which decides the fate of the next life. The mindfulness power of the manas is equivalent to karmic force. If the manas possesses strong wholesome aspirations, its right mindfulness will be strong, indicating that through cultivation, the power of unwholesome karma has been transformed, and wholesome karma outweighs unwholesome karma. If the manas harbors strong unwholesome thoughts, unwholesome karma will be strong, signifying that the individual’s cultivation is ineffective, and at the time of death and rebirth, they will follow the stronger force. If the manas has not realized the Dharma, at the time of death and rebirth, the individual is not a sage but remains an ordinary being, subject to the fate of an ordinary person, drifting through the cycle of birth and death according to their karma. If the wisdom of the manas is not strengthened, and one does not rely on the wisdom of the manas, all the cultivation done in a lifetime will be of no avail.

For example, recollecting the Buddha and reciting the Buddha’s name is right mindfulness. At the time of death, if consciousness is weak and one cannot recall or lacks the strength to recite the Buddha’s name, and if the recitation has not permeated into the manas—meaning the manas has not developed the habit of reciting the Buddha’s name—then the manas will not know to recite the Buddha’s name. In this case, one will not resonate with the Buddha and will be unable to receive the Buddha’s guidance for rebirth. Instead, one will drift with karma, wandering through the cycle of birth and death. The result is that after a lifetime of reciting the Buddha’s name, only a seed remains, and it does not function at the time of death. Those who focus solely on the sixth consciousness (mano-vijñāna) without delving deeply into cultivation will bear such fruit.