Itivuttaka, Volume One (2)

Original text: 吾从世尊。闻如是语。苾刍当知。世间所有恶不善法。于生起时。诸不善品。诸不善类。一切皆由意为前导。所以者何。意生起已。恶不善法。皆随后生。 

Explanation: I heard such words from the World-Honored One: Bhikṣus, you should know that when all evil and unwholesome dharmas in the world arise, all unwholesome categories and all unwholesome types are led by the manas as their forerunner. Why is this said? Because after the mental intent of the manas arises, evil and unwholesome dharmas all subsequently arise. This passage of the World-Honored One is especially important; it directly points out the importance and dominant position of the manas, and also points out that all the wholesome and unwholesome karmic actions of body, speech, and mind of the six consciousnesses are entirely led forth by the manas, and are all the result of being driven and directed by the manas. Therefore it is said that the manas is endowed with all unwholesome dharmas and unwholesome mental factors, and is also endowed with all wholesome dharmas and wholesome mental factors. If the manas does not have a certain unwholesome mental factor, then that portion need not be cultivated; it would be superfluous for the six consciousnesses to cultivate it, because the six consciousnesses are pulled along by the manas. If the manas is defiled, the six consciousnesses cannot be purified; there is no such principle that the six consciousnesses alone could be pure. The manas is the master of the five-aggregate body, the sovereign of the five-aggregate body, the controller of the five-aggregate body. The manas is heaven itself. If one cultivates the manas well, one becomes a Buddha; if one does not cultivate the manas well, one does not even have the aspiration toward the first fruit, cannot realize any dharma, let alone seeing the mind and seeing the nature, becoming a bodhisattva, or becoming a Buddha. 

Original text: 尔时世尊。重摄此义。而说颂曰。 诸不善法生为因能感苦。皆意为前导与烦恼俱生。 意为前导法意尊意所使。由意有染污故有说有行。 苦随此而生如轮因手转。 

Explanation: The World-Honored One again summarized this meaning and spoke in verse: All unwholesome dharmas arise as causes capable of attracting suffering; all of them have the manas as their forerunner, arising together with afflictions. The manas is the forerunner of dharmas; dharmas honor the manas and are directed by it. Because the manas is defiled, there are defiled bodily, verbal, and mental actions; suffering arises following this, just as a wheel turns because of a person's hand. Therefore the karmic act of killing, with its hatred, is entirely created with the manas's hateful mind as the forerunner; all kinds of greed and desire are entirely created with the manas's greed as the forerunner; all kinds of karmic acts of delusion are created with the manas's delusion as the forerunner. Thus the manas is endowed with all unwholesome mental factors, which manifest according to conditions, directing the six consciousnesses to create unwholesome karma and later receiving unwholesome retribution. 

Original text: 吾从世尊。闻如是语。苾刍当知。世间所有白净善法。于生起时。善品善类。一切皆由意为前导。所以者何。意生起已。白净善法。皆随后生。尔时世尊。重摄此义。而说颂曰。 诸净善法生为因能感乐。皆意为前导与善法俱生。 意为前导法意尊意所使。由意有清净故有说有行。 乐随此而生如影随形转。

Explanation: I heard such words from the World-Honored One: Bhikṣus, you should know that when all pure and wholesome dharmas in the world arise, all wholesome categories and wholesome types are led forth by the manas as their forerunner. Why is this said? Because after the mental intent of the manas arises, pure and wholesome dharmas all subsequently arise.

At that time the World-Honored One again proclaimed this dharma meaning and spoke in verse: All pure and wholesome dharmas arise as causes capable of attracting happiness; all of them have the manas as their forerunner, arising together with wholesome dharmas. The manas is the forerunner of all dharmas; all dharmas honor the manas and are directed by it. Because the manas possesses purity, pure bodily, verbal, and mental actions are created, and the fruit of happiness arises following this, just as a shadow turns along with its form. 

Therefore the manas is endowed with all categories of wholesome dharmas, endowed with all wholesome mental factors, which manifest according to conditions. It is also said that the manas can be wholesome or unwholesome, and also neither wholesome nor unwholesome, being endowed with all mental factors, because the manas is the master of all dharmas, and all dharmas include wholesome dharmas, unwholesome dharmas, and neither-wholesome-nor-unwholesome dharmas. All these dharmas are created through the direction of the manas's mental intent, and the manas's mental intent is endowed with all mental factors.