What to Do When the Mind Consciousness Lacks Meditative Concentration and Wisdom

The manas can contact and mentally engage with all the dharmas manifested and transformed by the tathāgatagarbha, and it can also introspect upon itself; but when the mind consciousness lacks meditative concentration and wisdom, it does not know that the manas has these functions and capacities. The manas can know events from countless kalpas ago and countless kalpas hence; when the mind consciousness lacks meditative concentration and wisdom, it still does not know these capacities of the manas, and that is why it has no superknowledges. The manas can ascend to the heavens and descend into the earth; when the mind consciousness lacks meditative concentration and wisdom, it still cannot follow along to ascend to the heavens and descend into the earth. Therefore, do not deny or doubt that the manas has so many marvelous functions and capacities.

When you do not know some dharma, do not deny it; instead, think this way: my mind consciousness lacks meditative concentration, lacks wisdom, lacks merit, and for the time being is still unable to comprehend these matters—the problem lies with the mind consciousness itself. Do not deny or belittle the people, affairs, things, and principles you do not understand. After the mind consciousness truthfully recognizes its own condition of lacking meditative concentration and wisdom, it must then find ways to change that condition; if it cannot truthfully recognize this, it cannot devise any means. And once a means has been devised, do not keep suggesting to the manas that "I cannot do this, I cannot do that," but rather suggest to the manas: I can surely make up for it, I can surely correct it, I can surely succeed, I can surely become a Buddha. This is wholesome habituation—conditioning the manas in accordance with reason and in accordance with the Dharma.