What Is Called True Realization

Many people talk about direct realization every day, but what does "actual" mean? Actual means the real, and the real is the direct perception of manas. Whatever realm manas reaches is the realm one's cultivation reaches. The realm of the mind consciousness is unreal, vanishing in the blink of an eye, like flowers in the sky that never touch the ground. Manas is the sovereign consciousness that commands the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of the six consciousnesses. What the mind consciousness understands is not direct realization, because the mind consciousness cannot take charge of bodily, verbal, and mental actions.

Direct realization requires that manas realize it, and for manas to realize it, meditative concentration (samādhi) is indispensable. When meditative concentration is insufficient, manas cannot deeply and subtly deliberate (manana) on the data provided by the mind consciousness, and cannot arrive at determination (adhimokṣa) regarding what the mind consciousness thinks and understands; therefore it cannot realize, and there is only the mind consciousness's solitary understanding. So without meditative concentration, do not talk about direct realization. And if the mind consciousness understands but manas does not realize, there is no merit and benefit of liberation—it is virtue unworthy of one's position.