Mental Factors of the Seventh Consciousness

The mental factors of the seventh consciousness are very complex, because the wholesome and unwholesome karmic retributions of all sentient beings since beginningless kalpas have all been accomplished through the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of the seventh consciousness, the manas. Whether it is the karmic retribution of ordinary beings in the three good destinies or the three evil destinies, or the supreme karmic retributions of the four kinds of noble ones—arhats, pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas—all are accomplished through the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of the manas. The difference in karmic retribution from hell to Buddhahood is so vast, and it is all brought about by the differences in the mental factors of the manas. Although the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of the mind consciousness also have a very great influence on karmic retribution, the wholesome and unwholesome states of the mind consciousness can only have a real influence and effect on the final karmic retribution after they have successfully permeated and conditioned the manas. If the manas has not been permeated and conditioned, it means that this person's fundamental nature has not changed, and the karmic retribution cannot change.

Since the mental factors of the manas determine the wholesome and unwholesome karmic retributions of sentient beings in future lives, and sentient beings indeed do have different wholesome and unwholesome karmic retributions, then the manas must have wholesome and unwholesome mental factors, and the degrees of heaviness of the wholesome and unwholesome mental factors of each sentient being's manas differ. The manas of sentient beings in the three evil destinies is replete with afflictive mental factors; the Buddha is replete with wholesome mental factors; and other sentient beings are not replete with either wholesome or unwholesome mental factors. Since the mental factors of the manas of different sentient beings differ so greatly, the various mental factors of the manas must be described separately according to the different types of sentient beings, and cannot be generalized in one statement.

Since beginningless kalpas, the seventh consciousness of sentient beings has always had ignorance and afflictions. After studying Buddhism and cultivating practice, through the restraint of the precepts and the growth of meditative concentration (samādhi) and wisdom, ignorance and afflictions are continuously subdued and eradicated, afflictive mental factors are continuously lightened and reduced, the eleven wholesome mental factors continuously increase and strengthen, and the functions of the five particular mental factors also continuously increase and strengthen. Therefore, the mental factors of the seventh consciousness must be described separately according to the stages and degrees of cultivation.