The Manifestation of Self-Validating Cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga) in the Conscious Mind

The dharmas of Yogācāra are extremely profound and subtle; before enlightenment, one is roughly an incalculable kalpa away from being able to directly perceive, through contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), the dharma of the seed-wisdom of Yogācāra. Therefore, no matter how wise someone believes themselves to be, one should not be too confident.

Since all eight consciousnesses possess self-validating cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga), which can verify the dharmas each consciousness itself discerns, this shows that the mind consciousnesses have determination (adhimokṣa) and a certain degree of wisdom. The self-validating cognition of the sixth consciousness (manovijñāna) manifests more frequently and obviously, so it is easy to observe; ordinary people also acknowledge that the mind consciousness has wisdom and an extremely strong power of determination. In foolish people, the mind consciousness lacks the power of introspection; its self-validating cognition does not manifest, and it has no power of determination, so such people cannot make sense of either worldly dharmas or world-transcending dharmas.

That the eighth consciousness has self-validating cognition shows that the eighth consciousness has wisdom and the power of determination. Its power of determination is manifested in accurately discerning karmic seeds, not misinterpreting karmic seeds, and actualizing karmic seeds faithfully without confusion; it is also manifested in the eighth consciousness being able to accurately and reasonably discern the mental factors (caittas) of the manas, closely cooperating with the manas, and satisfying the manas' needs by generating all dharmas.

The seventh consciousness also has self-validating cognition, which shows that the seventh consciousness has the power of determination, can understand its own cognition and state, and has wisdom; only thus can it in the future transform consciousness into wisdom. The power of determination of the seventh consciousness is manifested in its ability to discern the dharmas manifested by the eighth consciousness and make correct decisions, directing the six consciousnesses to operate; it is manifested in the seventh consciousness being able to correctly discern the dharmas observed and discerned by the six consciousnesses, understanding the analysis, reflection, and judgment of the mind consciousness, and thereby making correct decisions and producing bodily, verbal, and mental actions that accord with reason, without confusion.

When this power of determination develops to its utmost, one can transform consciousness into wisdom; when the power of determination is at its greatest, one can transform consciousness into wisdom for the third time, ultimately accomplishing the Buddha Way. There is no such thing as attaining buddhahood while the manas is still very foolish, lacking the power of determination and great wisdom; if it were possible, it would be the attainment of a foolish buddha. Nor is there such a thing as being able to transform consciousness into wisdom, becoming a bodhisattva on the bhūmis, entering the Tathāgata's household, and becoming a true Buddhist son, while the manas lacks the power of determination and great wisdom; if it were possible, it would also be the attainment of a foolish bodhisattva.

The five sense consciousnesses also have a weak power of introspection; they have self-validating cognition and a very narrowly scoped power of determination, and can operate in coordination with the directives of the manas. But the power of determination of the five sense consciousnesses is far inferior to that of the manas, even more inferior to that of the mind consciousness, and also not equal to the power of determination of the eighth consciousness—although the eighth consciousness cannot exercise determination regarding the six sense objects, and cannot exercise determination regarding worldly dharmas.

When the mind consciousness lacks wisdom and cannot observe the self-validating cognition of these consciousnesses, the self-validating cognition of these consciousnesses still exists and operates, regardless of whether the mind consciousness can observe it or not.