20. The Six Desires  

“Lục” means six; “dục” means desire. The Six Desires are the six modes of wanting. These six modes of desire arise because the six sense faculties come into contact with the six objects of sense, giving birth to the six consciousnesses; and when these six consciousnesses again engage the six objects, the Six Desires are produced.

“Lục” is six; “thức” is knowing or consciousness.

When the six faculties encounter the six objects, the six consciousnesses arise:

When the six consciousnesses engage the six objects, the Six Desires are born:

Only when the Six Desires arise do the Seven Emotions come into being. The Seven Emotions are: Joy, Anger, Love, Hatred, Sorrow, Pleasure, and Desire. Among the emotions, desire is the governing force; desire is the most decisive emotion. Only when human beings master desire can they become Buddhas, Immortals, or Saints.

That humans possess the Six Desires and Seven Emotions is to possess a priceless treasure. What elevates humans above animals is precisely the possession of the Six Desires and Seven Emotions. The Six Desires and Seven Emotions are like a double-edged blade: they can cause a person to ascend or to fall.

Because the Subpreme Being wished humankind to be nobler than animals, He bestowed upon humans the Six Desires and Seven Emotions. At the same time, the Subpreme Being granted humankind a Point of Divine Light to illuminate these desires and emotions, and to determine gain or loss, fulfillment or ruin.

Any true soul that follows the Point of Divine Light ascends; any true soul that does not follow it descends. This Point of Divine Light is what people call the “conscience”.

Every action arising from the Six Desires and Seven Emotions is judged by the conscience. In its judgment, the conscience reveals what is right and what is wrong, what is upright and what is deviant.

Knowing the distinction between right and wrong yet choosing wrong leads to descent; choosing right leads to ascent. The paths of ascent and descent are separated by only a thin veil.

Every action is examined by the conscience, and through that examination right and wrong are known. Right and wrong are divided by no more than a thousandth of a millimeter. A slight deviation can turn righteousness into error, or error back into righteousness. Human beings surpass animals by precisely that thousandth of a millimeter.