What Would Happen If the Manas Had No Afflictions of Ignorance?

If the manas had no hatred, that would be wonderful: as soon as the mind consciousness ceases, one would be a non-returner (Anāgāmin) free of hatred, and after death one would be reborn as an Anāgāmin. There would be no need to eliminate the self-view, no need to cultivate the first dhyāna—ordinary beings could simply extinguish their mind consciousness and directly become Anāgāmins. If the manas lacked any kind of affliction, that would be wonderful too: as soon as one died, one would be a noble one, with no need for further cultivation in future lives. With just a little contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), one could attain realization of the fruits, quickly cultivate the first dhyāna, eliminate afflictions, and once again be an Anāgāmin. And if the manas had no ignorance, that would be even better—one would directly be a Buddha, and the fact that you, I, he, and she are still cultivating here would be utterly superfluous. There would be no need to cultivate at all: if the manas had no ignorance, there would be no need to break through ignorance or exhaust it. Being originally a Buddha, what would there be left to cultivate?

If the manas had no hatred and no afflictions, then we would only need to take a nap—as soon as the mind consciousness ceases, everyone who is asleep would be a noble one. A newborn baby has a brand-new mind consciousness and supreme faculty (rūpa-prasāda); if the manas had no hatred and no afflictions, then every baby born would be a noble one. Would we still need to cultivate so painstakingly? If the manas had no hatred, then when a baby could not get something, it would not fly into a frantic rage and wail loudly, would not get angry and hit people, and would not say that Mommy is bad. When a stranger wanted to hold the baby, it would not push them away. The baby would never be unhappy—no pouting, no temper tantrums, no moodiness.