The Manas Simultaneously Discerns Dharmas as a Whole

The integrated dharma is the combination of the five sense objects and the mental sense object; lacking either one, it does not constitute a dharma.

Since the manas is the consciousness that acts as the master, determining the arising, ceasing, and variation of the six consciousnesses, the manas can discern the five sense objects, not merely the mental sense object. It can make a rough discernment of the combined object composed of the five sense objects and the mental sense object. This is why the manas can prompt all six consciousnesses to arise and jointly discern any kind of sense object. Regarding the combined object of the six sense objects, the manas's discernment may also have a point of emphasis. For example, in discerning fresh flowers, it may focus on discerning colors rather than shapes and lengths. At this time, under the direction of the manas, the eye consciousness will seek out the colors that the manas likes, and the mind consciousness, following along, will likewise seek the mental sense objects related to those colors.

What the manas first contacts and discerns is the complete sense object, not the sense objects divided into the five sense objects and the mental sense object. Therefore, do not say that the manas only discerns the mental sense object and does not discern the five sense objects. If that were so, by what would the five consciousnesses arise to discern the five sense objects? And who would guide and direct them?

What the manas discerns is the sense object as a whole, including the five sense objects and the mental sense objects upon them; it does not discern the five sense objects alone, nor the mental sense object alone. Therefore, when the six consciousnesses arise, the five consciousnesses and the mind consciousness must all arise simultaneously to jointly discern the sense object; they cannot be separated. The manas's discernment is rough and cannot be detailed; the five consciousnesses can discern in detail, and the mind consciousness can discern in even greater detail.

Apart from being unable to discern the essential object that initially appears, the manas can discern all the six sense objects both inside and outside the supreme faculties. The six consciousnesses can only discern the six sense objects within the supreme faculties. For those with supernatural powers, the objects discerned by the mind consciousness are relatively vast, and they can also discern sense objects outside the supreme faculties.