How to Ensure Actual Realization Rather Than Understanding

In the early stages of contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) and investigation, the mind consciousness can deliberate and study the Dharma teachings extensively, gaining a general understanding of their meaning. Later, when the causal conditions for Chan investigation are complete, and on the basis of having developed meditative concentration (samādhi), the mind consciousness condenses the Dharma teachings it has understood into a meaning that is very easy to grasp, and suspends it deeply in the mind, working at it from morning to night, forgetting food and sleep — this is investigation.

The mind consciousness should analyze and deliberate less, and let the manas deliberate and weigh things on its own more — this is the most effective method to ensure genuine realization. If the mind consciousness does too much analysis and deliberation, once it knows the answer, it no longer wants to investigate, and the manas then has no opportunity to investigate, so enlightenment can never be attained. Therefore, if the answer to seeing the mind is casually inquired about or casually told to someone, once the mind consciousness knows it, the manas can no longer apply effort, and enlightenment becomes impossible. The same applies to the eradication of the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa): one cannot demand that the master explain it in too much detail. If the mind consciousness already knows everything, the manas can no longer ponder it, and eradicating the view of self becomes very difficult.

Using the mind consciousness to deliberate feels tiring, whereas letting the manas apply itself more does not feel tiring. When meditative concentration is very good, the manas can participate in contemplative practice; without meditative concentration, the manas cannot get involved and cannot deliberate and investigate with single-minded focus. The questioning doubt during Chan investigation is precisely the manas single-mindedly wanting to understand and find the answer. Let the manas examine the Dharma teachings; once it has examined them clearly and they pass, that is realization. Those who place emphasis on the mind consciousness say the manas is a block of wood and mere decoration, of no use. If contemplative practice and investigation truly did not require the manas, I would right now announce the answers to realization to the whole world, so that everyone in the world, whether or not they study Buddhism, would all know the answers, all become enlightened, and all become Buddhas — could that be done? It is utterly impossible. Each person eats and each person is filled; no one has ever heard that views and understanding can be substituted for one another.

The character "examine" in the phrase "the manas constantly examines and deliberates" reveals the mental activity of the manas, and also reveals the function it performs. This shows that the manas is not a useless object or mere decoration; it has an extremely important, decisive role, and is a lively, active conscious mind. Whatever dharma the manas contacts, it must examine; whatever dharmas the six consciousnesses discern, the manas must examine. Once it has examined them, it must make a decision and deal with them. So what role does the manas play in Chan investigation? What role does it play in eradicating the view of self? What role does it play in seeing the mind and seeing the nature? What role does it play in realizing all dharmas? In all cases, it plays the decisive role.

All dharmas must pass through the manas' checkpoint; if the manas has not examined and approved them, no processing can take place. When the manas examines, it has its own mental activity and must make its own deliberations; it does not completely obey the six consciousnesses, nor does it immediately approve whatever the six consciousnesses discern. Therefore, everything seen by the six consciousnesses must be clearly and distinctly understood by the manas; if the manas does not understand, the examination is not up to standard, it does not pass, and the manas cannot make a decision. Both eradicating the view of self and seeing the mind and seeing the nature must pass through the manas' examination and review; if the manas does not agree, the view of self cannot be eradicated, and seeing the mind and seeing the nature cannot occur. The eradication of the view of self and seeing the mind done by the mind consciousness alone are merely the mind consciousness's own understanding and belief; if the master-leader does not approve, it does not count. For the mind consciousness to act on its own authority, claiming eradication of the view of self and seeing the mind without the leader's approval — there is no such principle.