Transformation of Manas and Mental Factors in the Process of Spiritual Practice

Ordinary beings' manas nearly possess all unwholesome mental factors. Due to these unwholesome mental factors, they transmigrate through the six destinies life after life, suffering retribution without end. However, it varies whether each sentient being possesses all these unwholesome mental factors, whether they all manifest, and the degree of their severity. Of course, ordinary beings also possess wholesome mental factors; otherwise, they could not ascend to the heavens to enjoy blessings. The six destinies of rebirth would then only have five paths, lacking the heavenly realm. The human realm would lack wholesome karmic retribution, and the asura realm would also lack wholesome retribution. Even within the human realm, one could not become a virtuous person or perform good deeds, and thus would have no wholesome fruits in the future. The reality is that even beings in the three evil destinies possess wholesome minds; otherwise, they could not be reborn as humans or devas in the future. It is merely that the wholesome minds of sentient beings may not manifest temporarily or manifest less frequently.

Ordinary beings who possess the four dhyanas and eight samadhis have mental factors of the seventh consciousness corresponding to the mental factor of samadhi. They can enter the four dhyanas and eight samadhis and be reborn in the desire realm heavens, form realm heavens, and formless realm heavens. Their subsidiary defilements diminish; mental factors such as laziness, heedlessness, loss of mindfulness, distraction, torpor, and restlessness are absent. The mental factors of the five object-specific mental states, particularly the mental factor of samadhi, are strengthened. Those without samadhi lack the mental factor of samadhi in their manas. Therefore, the mental factors of the seventh consciousness in ordinary beings are not fixed and need not be the same for each individual.

However, for those who have cultivated samadhi and those who have attained the noble fruits, the common characteristic regarding the mental factors of manas and consciousness is that unwholesome mental factors are lightened and reduced, while wholesome mental factors are increased and strengthened. In seventh-consciousness mental factors of Bodhisattvas before passing the firm barrier at the three virtuous stages and of Stream-enterers and Once-returners, the mental factor of self-view is eliminated. Several of the major subsidiary defilements are reduced. The mental factor of lack of faith is eliminated, while the mental factor of faith is increased and strengthened. The mental factor of incorrect knowing is eliminated. The mental factor of torpor was originally absent. Laziness, heedlessness, restlessness, loss of mindfulness, and distraction are reduced or eliminated. Major subsidiary defilements are reduced. Medium subsidiary defilements may be reduced or eliminated. Simultaneously, all eleven wholesome mental factors are increased and strengthened. Among the five object-specific mental factors, the mental factors of determination (adhimokṣa), samadhi, and wisdom are strengthened. These vary depending on the individual; they are not identical for everyone.

For Bodhisattvas after passing the firm barrier and Bodhisattvas beyond the grounds, because the seventh consciousness has initially transformed into wisdom, their mental factors consist of the five universal factors and the five object-specific factors, along with the eleven wholesome factors. However, these are not yet fully complete nor at their most powerful; only at Buddhahood are they fully complete and supremely powerful. The root affliction mental factors are all eradicated. All major subsidiary defilements are eliminated. Medium subsidiary defilements are reduced or eliminated. Minor subsidiary defilements are gradually exhausted during the fourth to seventh ground Bodhisattvas. The seventh-consciousness mental factors of Non-returners and Arhats also undergo changes. Arhats have eliminated all affliction mental factors. Non-returners still have some affliction mental factors remaining. Wholesome mental factors increase. The five object-specific mental factors are also strengthened, but not yet fully complete, generally equivalent to the mental factors of Bodhisattvas after passing the firm barrier. However, they cannot eradicate the minor subsidiary defilements; their habitual tendencies still persist. The seventh-consciousness mental factors of a Buddha fully possess the five universal factors, the five object-specific factors, and the eleven wholesome factors, with no other mental factors present.