Is the Dharma-sthiti-jñāna's Knowledge of Past and Future Direct Perception, Inference, or Non-valid Cognition?

With the wisdom of abiding in the dharmas, one can attain liberation. Therefore, the wisdom of abiding in the dharmas is the direct perception that realizes the twelve links of dependent origination. Even when knowing the past and future, it is known through direct perception, not inference. Wisdom known through inference is shallow; wisdom that must rely on a specific dharma to be known is unreliable and incomplete. Once the dharma it relies upon does not appear, the inferential knowledge vanishes. In inferential knowledge, there is no process of the manas directly investigating; thus, the manas cannot directly realize it, and consciousness cannot know it independently. Within reasoning, some parts belong to inference, while others belong to non-valid cognition. Even if the reasoning is correct, it is not direct perception because the manas does not know it. The knowing of the manas is immediate: it knows or does not know, presenting a clear boundary instantly without the need for consciousness to engage in slow and deliberate thought processes.

Some say that since one cannot see the past and future, and the dharmas of the past and future cannot be present, knowledge of past and future dharmas should be inferential. This view is incorrect. The so-called "presence" does not necessarily mean appearing before the eyes. Wisdom is not initiated by the eye consciousness but jointly initiated by consciousness and the manas. Consciousness and the manas can fully realize and confirm the dharmas of the past and future, especially since the manas is fundamentally unimpeded by time and space. Through the tathagatagarbha, it can know all dharmas. The dharmas of past lives can be recalled upon will, and the dharmas of future lives can be known upon will, as demonstrated by dream states and meditative states. Therefore, what the manas does not know cannot be direct perception wisdom. When consciousness knows through direct perception, the manas may not necessarily know through direct perception, and the knowing of consciousness may be overlooked or negated due to varying conditions.