On Self-Cognition and Self-Validating Cognition

When I say the master is a good master, that is the conscious mind's self-validating cognition (svasaṃvedana). If I am very certain of this, without any doubt, then at the same time there is also the manas's self-validating cognition. And the manas's self-validating cognition belongs to direct perception, whereas the mind consciousness's self-validating cognition is not necessarily direct perception. The manas's self-cognition (svasaṃvitti) is also direct perception, while the mind consciousness's self-cognition is not necessarily direct perception. What is direct perception is absolutely without doubt, without the slightest suspicion. Non-valid cognition most easily gives rise to doubt and disbelief; with inference, the mind also does not settle, and doubt still persists unceasingly—therefore these do not count as genuine realization. The result of Chan investigation includes the perceiving-aspect (darśana-bhāga) and self-cognition (svasaṃvitti) of both the mind consciousness and the manas, as well as the object-aspect (nimitta). The result of Chan investigation is the manas's self-cognition, not its self-validating cognition. Self-validating cognition is used to validate oneself, not to validate other dharmas.