All Seven Consciousnesses Possess the Mental Factor of Determination (Adhimokṣa)

Determination (adhimokṣa) means that the conscious mind, with respect to the dharmas it encounters, can understand and comprehend them as they truly are — the most reasonable understanding, the most accurate understanding, without misinterpretation or false interpretation, and without misunderstanding. If there is misinterpretation and determination cannot be achieved, then one cannot make correct and error-free decisions, and one's actions and conduct will surely be wrong, inevitably with serious consequences. If, when I teach the Dharma, you are never able to attain determination, then my teaching is in vain and your learning is in vain, with no result — and perhaps misunderstandings may even arise. If someone is talking with you and you cannot attain determination, you will distort the other person's meaning and be unable to make a reasonable, normal response; the two of you cannot communicate normally, and the exchange is useless. In this way, people cannot communicate and interact with one another, and cannot live in the same space.

Among the seven consciousnesses, whichever consciousness lacks determination cannot correctly interpret the corresponding dharma, and cannot make correct and appropriate decisions; the result is like a blind person who cannot walk — the conscious mind cannot function normally. Do the five consciousnesses also have determination? Can the five consciousnesses understand the Buddha's teachings? The conscious minds of animals all have determination — do animals all study Buddhism? If the power of determination of animals were entirely lower than that of humans, how could they hunt prey accurately and in a timely manner? How could they survive? In fact, give your family's puppy a glance or a facial expression, and it will understand in a split second and carry out the command without a word — humans are even more so. The bodily, verbal, and mental actions of all sentient beings are decided by the manas. Since correct decisions can be made, allowing the five-aggregate body to function normally, the manas must certainly possess the mental factor of determination. Not only do the six consciousnesses have determination, but the manas has even greater power of determination than the five consciousnesses, and is far more quick-witted than they are.