Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Consciousnesses and the Six Perceptions (煩惱障礙修行)
The Six Roots and Six Consciousnesses may cause all wrongdoings. When the Six Roots engage the Six Senses Objects, the Six Consciousnesses arise.
There are Six Roots and Six Consciousnesses. The Six Roots connect with the Six Sense Objects, and consciousness differentiates things. We have discussed the Six Sense Organs. Today we will talk about the Six Consciousnesses.
They are: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. The consciousness of the eyes in modern terminology, is the optic nerve. There is also the acoustic nerve. Even if we have ears and eyes, if our nerve system is damaged, we cannot see. It is because the optic nerves are not working. You see people who have ears, but they cannot hear. Today’s education is very broad and advanced. The deaf are taught to read lips. They focus intently with their eyes on the movement of others’ lips to know what they are saying.
So they shift the function of Ear-consciousness to the eyes. They focus energy in the eyes to read others’ lips as they speak. To do so, they also need Mind-consciousness.
So Eye-consciousness is sometimes multi-functional. Regarding Ear-consciousness, some people cannot see, but they are very nimble. They cannot see, but they have a good memory. They listen to voices and recognizes the speakers. So if our Ear-consciousness is focused on the voice of the person who was introduced to us and has spoken with us, next time we meet him, we can recall his name without being asked “Do you recognize my voice?” When the person speaks, we will already know who he is without being asked. See, Ear-consciousness is very clever. As long as we are mindful in using our ears, they will help us when we cannot see. We see people typing at a computer. They cannot see, yet they are able to use the computer. I truly admire that. Not only can they use a computer, they can also do computer engineering work. It is truly amazing. That is focusing the mind.
With Nose-consciousness, one can smell something from afar and recognize it by its odor. One does not need to see or hear, but can use Nose-consciousness, the olfactory nerves, to distinguish anything be it a plant or even a person. We usually do not sense the smell of people. Only when it is crowded do we sense that the air is stale. Those with a keen sense of smell can recognize a person with their eyes closed and ears covered. They will know who the person is. It takes focus. With Tongue-consciousness, one can tell if something is sweet, salty, sour, bitter or spicy. It is also very keen. The Tongue-consciousness is the sensation of the tongue with regards to food.
Next is the Body-consciousness. Do you feel cold or hot? Being asked this, your mind may quickly discern that it is hot, so you need a fan. That is the mind connecting to external conditions. After autumn comes winter. Is it cold or hot? It is cold. Did you close the door tight to prevent the draft from getting in? That is the Body-consciousness. So the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body all have consciousness. They are of the sensory nervous system. The senses, through nerves, connect with our Mind-consciousness, which is considered the Sixth Sense. After the senses of the eyes, the senses of the ears, the senses of the nose, the senses of the tongue, and the senses of the body, there is the Sixth Sense. We call it the Mind-consciousness.
So the Six Sense Organs connect with form, sound, smell, taste, touch and thoughts. Our minds perceives thoughts, which are all kinds of mental formations. So those are the Six Sense Objects. Objects are of different compositions, forms and colors. They are just things. We need a way to distinguish between them, and we do this through the Sixth Consciousness. The Six Roots connect with the Six Sense Objects, and the Six Consciousnesses with external states. When Sense Organs connect with Sense Objects, smells, colors and feelings are produced. Without the mind, the sixth sense, there is no way for anything to have an effect. If I ask you what durian smells like, do you need to have a durian now? No. We all know it. How do we know? Durian has a strong smell. When I ask you about durian now, you know how durian smells. Do you smell it? No. Why not?
There is no durian here. But those who have smelled durian know its bad smell. Do you smell it now? No. That was to show that sense organs and objects must connect. The Six Sense Objects bring up our perceptions. If the Six Roots depart from the Six Objects, there is no feeling. We know, but do not feel it. We know the strong smell of durian, but we do not smell it now.
When the Six Sense Organs and Six Sense Objects come into contact, feelings arise. Once we are free of the Six Sense Organs and the Six Sense Objects, the feelings disappear.
We often speak of the Eight Consciousnesses. Besides the Six Consciousnesses, our minds differentiate external states. After a situation passes, our thoughts become memories. This is the Seventh Consciousness. The day before yesterday, I mentioned that the Seventh Consciousness creates.
Actually, when the eye organ connects with an external condition, a picturesque scene, and takes the image into our minds, it has no effect on us. The external condition is beautiful, but it passes. But if the external condition was a person scolding us, the condition will be stored in our minds. Why did the condition leave an effect? Being scolded by someone angers us, and makes us dislike that person when we see him again. These are thoughts. We recall impressions of the past when our minds and external conditions intertwine. Through recollection, through our thoughts, we feel very unhappy. We may slander that person and take actions against them. This begins with the mind. Once it is created, we have planted the seed of resentment toward that person. That is the Eighth Consciousness.
The animosity and resentment are carried from this life to the next. So the Sixth Consciousness connects with external states, then the Seventh Consciousness moves into action, and the Eighth Consciousness stores the seed. That is why spiritual cultivation requires that we are very attentive to our surrounding circumstances. Our surroundings are closely related to the conditions of this life and the next life. So the goal of spiritual practice is to carry the good seeds from past lives and eliminate the bad seeds. This can be done through spiritual cultivation. As consciousness engages with outside factors, the Six Consciousness connect externally.
The Seventh consciousness creates. The Eighth Consciousness stores. So we must be very mindful.
Our surrounding circumstances are closely related to the conditions of this life and the next life. Spiritual practice is about eliminating all bad karmic causes and extending the good ones.
Perception comes after Consciousnesses. Six Perceptions arise from the Six Sense Objects. As I just said, the Six Sense Objects include form, sound, smell, taste and touch. These objects, be they forms, sounds, etc., are external and connect accordingly with our Six Sense Organs. Then our consciousnesses make distinctions and give rise to perception. Perception will distinguish and the impressions stay in our minds. Our consciousnesses make distinctions: something is high or low, or something is a tree or grass. Scenes pass in a flash, but the images remain in the mind. Those are the Six Perceptions.
The Six Perceptions are what remain in our minds when we connect with the Six Sense Objects. We react to them instantaneously. If we feel that we like it, we want to have it right away. If we do not like it, we may fear it and want to get away from it quickly. The impressions are subject to discrimination in our consciousness.
When the six Roots engage the Six Sense Objects, the Six Consciousnesses arise, creating mental impressions. Likes and dislikes are created by the discriminating function of the Six Perceptions.
So if we cling to wrong impressions or thoughts, one might say that we hold the wrong view because we have misinterpreted the impressions or memories. Thus we may lose our root of goodness. That person spoke with good intentions, trying to advise us. Yet we feel that he is challenging us. But, upon hearing those same words, if we could be understanding, we would be grateful. If we are not, we may turn it into a dispute.
When our views are deviant, we may lose our root of goodness. Well-intentioned words become a source of conflict if one does not have a heart of understanding and empathy. With understanding, one an face life positively with a heart of gratitude.
I remember speaking about two sisters-in-law. The younger sister was fond of her brother's wife and always took her side. When she married into the family, her mother was very critical. The younger sister had a strong sense of justice and thought her mother unreasonable for nitpicking and mocking her sister-in-law. But the sister-in-law always bore it with a smile. The younger sister would ask her, "Why are you so foolish? Didn't you understand what Mother was trying to imply?"
She replied, "I didn't. Mother was right in teaching me. I didn't understand. Mother said I was wrong, and I was. I should change."
The younger sister wanted to protect her more. She thought her sister-in-law needed her otherwise, she would be bullied.
She brought her sister-in-law to see me and told me how foolish she was.
She asked me to make her wiser.
"How is she foolish?"
She said, "My mother said this and that to her and she didn't understand. She just listened without taking offense."
So I asked her sister-in-law. "What about you? Aren't you mad about what your mother-in-law said?"
She said, "The elderly have more experience. They have seen more than I have. When others tell me what I have done wrong, I should make amends. Then I can improve. I should be grateful."
So I told the younger sister, "Your sister-in-law is very happy. She was scolded but she didn't get mad. Instead, she's grateful. She is very wise. There's no need to make her wiser. She is a person of wisdom and knows how to be accommodating, understanding, grateful and content. There's nothing wrong. But you, your mind isn't open. You have read your mother's words differently. You picked up hidden meanings in every word your mother said. You failed to see the big picture.”
“You're the one at fault."
This is thinking from a slanted perspective. If we think from a slanted perspective, what we see, hear, etc., may deviate. When an external image enters our mind, seeing it clearly and in the best light is very important. If our view is off, we may lose our root of goodness. It is definitely harmful to our root of goodness. So we should be extremely cautious. If the thought is not right, it becomes a delusion, which will lead to even more delusions.
So when we learn Buddhism, we really should take good care of our minds and clearly see all external conditions. Otherwise, we will have delusions and hallucinations. False views will keep developing, and our thoughts will be in disarray. Our Six Roots, Six Sense Objects, and Six Consciousness will be disturbed by our minds. When the Consciousness makes judgment, it will become confused. Our thoughts, plans and conduct will gradually deviate.
Everyone, spiritual practice is truly profound. As long as we keep our minds pure, we can practice with clarity. So everyone please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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