The Uninterrupted Attention of the Manas and Buddhist Practice and Realization

Question: Uninterrupted attention (manaskāra) seems to be something that, after the Dharma principles have penetrated deep into the manas, only the manas can accomplish—uninterrupted attention, never letting go thought after thought. In fact, isn't merit precisely the inevitable product of the manas's acceptance or transformation? As long as the manas genuinely accepts and takes responsibility for it, the merit of realizing the fruit naturally arises, and wisdom arises as well. This is a series of naturally occurring events; the root of realizing the Dharma still lies in the manas. Is that correct?

Answer: That is correct. Uninterrupted attention—"uninterrupted" means without cessation. Only the manas can be mindful of Dharma principles without interruption, throughout the six periods of the day and night, from morning to evening, thought after thought without pause. This requires the mind consciousness to steep itself in the Buddha's teachings until the impregnation successfully reaches the manas. When the manas considers the Buddha's teachings to be important, it will hold the Dharma in mind thought after thought, its thoughts never departing from the Dharma, and one day it will certainly realize the Dharma. If the manas does not hold the Buddha's teachings in mind, the mind consciousness's thoughts about the Dharma will inevitably cease, and it cannot be mindful of the Dharma without interruption.

Using hypnotic methods, one can also make the manas accept something, after which the manas undergoes a transformation. Each person's degree of the manas's acceptance and realization of the Buddha's teachings differs, so the impact received differs, the transformation differs, and the wisdom differs as well. Therefore, fundamental wisdom still refers to what the manas brings about.