There is a saying that goes: "Seek truth from facts:" what you see is what it is, what you hear is what it is, and present whatever is in your mind truthfully and accurately. In simpler terms, what we consider facts in everyday language are what Buddhism calls direct valid cognition.
The object of direct valid cognition, both form and consciousness, is called nature realm, a concept in Yogacara. We will not delve into that now, as it is quite extensive. What we need to remember here is that direct valid cognition, in everyday language, is known as fact.
Mental consciousness has the ability to be aware of its own activities, which we call self-awareness. While this self-awareness lacks external validation from others, the similarities in its function and expression suggest it may share some definitional elements with how we describe objects.
How do we understand that mental consciousness is the self-awareness of our own thoughts? Think about it: everything in our heads, thoughts and feelings, are personal experiences we cannot share. So, what does that mean? It means we can never truly know what goes on inside each other's minds, what we feel or think.
How can I know what you are thinking? After all, the same situation may make one person happy and another person sad. However, when two people are facing the same unknown situation, they can express it through their similar functions and expressions. Imagine two people plunged into darkness, one exclaiming, "Wow, it's pitch black!" while the other echoes, "Me too, I can't see a thing!" By analyzing these shared expressions across diverse experiences, we can classify and categorize the self-awareness of mental consciousness, and then derive similar characteristics.
What is the nature of conscious activity? How does it reveal itself in our thoughts and understanding? Take jealousy: two individuals gripped by it might voice their internal turmoil. One mutters, "I feel terrible and hatred." The other echoes, "Me too, exactly." In this case, the nature and characteristics of jealousy have been comparably confirmed through their language—the self-awareness of mental consciousness could have some similar characteristics.
To make it easier for you to understand this academic content, I will use some general language to explain it. I will not make it too complicated. If I talk too deeply, it will be troublesome for you to listen.
Yogacara believes that the objects of cognition of the first five consciousnesses belong to the "nature realm". If the sense organs are normal, the results of their cognition all belong to the "direct valid cognition". In other words, what we see and hear is simply what it is. For example, when I see a wall, I directly perceive it as a wall, not an illusion. It really is a wall. Therefore, in this case, what I see is the direct valid cognition.
The same principle applies to sound. What you hear with healthy ears is exactly what you hear. If you hear a girl singing, that is what is happening - not a boy. Moreover, the frequency of this sound is relatively high. This direct perception of the world around you is the same for both your eyes and ears.
That is to say, the objects of the first five-sense consciousnesses all belong to the nature realm. If the organs are healthy, the results of perception are direct and valid. Please remember these two terms: nature realm and direct valid cognition.
Excerpted from:Cognition and Expression Part One
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