What are the Three Means of Cognition and the Realm of Direct Perception?

Direct perception (pratyakṣa) discernment is the ability to observe and discern the phenomenal realm that is currently occurring and existing just as it is, without error. Inference discernment is the ability of the mind consciousness to deliberate, analyze, reason, and judge; it may be discernment that accords with reality, or it may be discernment that does not accord with reality. Non-valid cognition discernment relies on the mind consciousness's fantasies, conjectures, and imaginings; its results may be correct, or they may be wrong. Knowing that a directly perceived realm exists means there are the discriminating and discerning activities of the conscious mind; otherwise, one would not know that a directly perceived realm exists. If there were no discrimination or discernment by the conscious mind, we would truly know nothing at all about the world.

A directly perceived realm is a realm that exists right before us, which the seven consciousnesses can discern directly in the present moment, without needing to compare it with other sense objects, without needing to deliberate or imagine, without needing to make assumptions. Without these intermediate steps, one can still directly discover the five sense-object realms that exist right before us. The first five consciousnesses certainly discern directly the five sense-object realms that exist in the present; the mind consciousness, relying on the five consciousnesses, can also directly discern the five sense-object realms existing in the present. If one still needs to make comparisons, assumptions, or imaginings in order to discern, this is clearly the mind consciousness's inference discernment. Thus the mind consciousness has three kinds of discernment: direct perception, inference, and non-valid cognition.