Spiritual Regression and Non-Regression in Practice Depends on the Manas

The deeper the meditative concentration (samādhi), the more the manas can be put to use; the shallower the meditative concentration, the weaker the manas. Whether one regresses or does not regress depends on the manas. When the manas earnestly and firmly investigates and deliberates on one's own, seeking the answer, once it reaches a conclusion, He becomes extremely convinced and will not doubt it—for no one trusts anyone more than themselves.

Therefore, with little effort applied, the realization is shallow, and doubt cannot be fully severed, making regression easy in the future. If the manas has not realized it, doubt cannot be dispelled even a little; this does not count as realization, cannot sever the bonds of fetters, and therefore the question of regression does not even arise. If one is investigating the tathāgatagarbha, the question of the transformation of the basis as tathāgatagarbha likewise does not arise, for without realizing it, how could one rely upon it? Without relying upon it, there can be no transformation. Without advancing, there is no regressing. If one merely plays tricks with the mind consciousness, one will suffer greatly at the time of death—will there still be time for regret then?