Is There Thought During Manas’s Constant Scrutinizing Deliberation?

The mental faculty (manas) has the function of thinking, which involves pondering and examining. First there is thought, then there is pondering and examination; without thought, there is no pondering. If the mental faculty is empty, with nothing being thought of, there is no mental activity, and nothing requires examination or pondering. At this point, the mental faculty is pure.

When the mental faculty is not yet subdued, its tendency to grasp is strong, and thoughts within the mind are numerous. Consequently, the mind continuously and endlessly ponders, deliberates, examines, judges, and evaluates. What remains unresolved during the day continues to be examined and pondered at night; in severe cases, one may wake up in the middle of the night unable to sleep. This is why it is said that the mental faculty of sentient beings possesses the constant nature of examining and pondering.

For Arhats who have subdued their mental faculty, there are almost no thoughts in their minds, and they seldom dwell on matters. Their mental faculty only occasionally engages in pondering, but not constantly; thus, it cannot be called "constant." Therefore, whenever the mental faculty ponders dharmas, thoughts arise. The dharmas being pondered are the thoughts—they are what the mental faculty contemplates.