The Presence of the Adhimokṣa Mental Factor in All Seven Consciousnesses

Adhimokṣa is the mind-consciousness's ability to accurately understand and comprehend the dharmas it encounters. It is the most reasonable and thorough understanding, free from misinterpretation, erroneous views, or misunderstandings. If one cannot achieve adhimokṣa due to misunderstanding, then one cannot make correct and flawless choices. Their actions and deeds will inevitably be wrong, leading to severe consequences. If, while I am expounding the Dharma, you consistently fail to attain adhimokṣa, then my teaching is in vain, your learning is futile, yielding no result, and misunderstandings may even arise. If someone speaks to you and you cannot achieve adhimokṣa, you will distort their meaning and be unable to offer a reasonable, appropriate response. The two parties cannot communicate normally, rendering the exchange useless. Thus, people become unable to communicate or interact, unable to coexist in the same space.

Among the seven consciousnesses, whichever consciousness lacks adhimokṣa cannot correctly interpret the dharmas corresponding to it and cannot make correct and appropriate choices. The result is like a blind person who cannot walk; the mind-consciousness cannot function normally. Do the five consciousnesses also possess adhimokṣa? Can the five consciousnesses comprehend the Buddha Dharma? Do all beings in the animal realm possess adhimokṣa? Do all animals study Buddhism? If the adhimokṣa power of animals were entirely inferior to that of humans, how could they hunt for food accurately and timely? How could they survive? In reality, give your furry dog a glance or an expression, and it instantly understands, carrying out the command without hesitation. Humans are even more so like this. The physical, verbal, and mental actions of all sentient beings are chosen by the manas (the defiled mental consciousness). Since they can make correct choices, enabling the five aggregates to function normally, then the manas must certainly possess this mental factor of adhimokṣa. Not only do the six consciousnesses have adhimokṣa, but the manas possesses even greater adhimokṣa power than the five consciousnesses, being far more acute and discerning than they are.