True cultivation is like rumination.

During the day, the old ox stands and walks while grazing; at night, when quiet, it lies down to ruminate, digesting and absorbing nutrients to sustain the needs of its physical body.

The mind consciousness draws in vast amounts of various knowledge amid the activities of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha), and when things quiet down, the manas deliberates (manasikāra) carefully in order to digest and absorb it. As a result, meditative concentration (samādhi) and wisdom grow, and progress on the Path advances. True diligent practice should be done in this way. One must not be satisfied with the coarse theoretical knowledge absorbed by the mind consciousness, which fails to nourish one's mind; knowledge does not nourish the Path—actual practice is the true principle, and personal realization is the Way.