The Influence of Sense Objects on the Manas When the Six Consciousnesses Are Absent

The manas contacts the mental sense-objects, and only afterwards does the mind consciousness arise to discern the mental sense-objects. It is the manas that first contacts and first knows the mental sense-objects, while the mind consciousness contacts and knows them later. It is only that what the manas knows is not as clear and detailed as what the mind consciousness knows, and after knowing, the manas has no way to act on it; it must rely on the mind consciousness and the five sense consciousnesses in order to act. Therefore, all sense-object realms are known first by the manas, without needing feedback from the six consciousnesses. However, the six consciousnesses discern the six sense-objects in considerable detail, and the mind consciousness has a strong capacity for logical thinking and observation, able to offer the manas many suggestions. When the manas receives feedback from the five sense consciousnesses and the mind consciousness, it can fully and thoroughly understand the sense-object realms, and then make the final decision. Therefore, although the manas cannot fully discern the realms of the six sense-objects, it can still be perfumed by them, or gain a general understanding of them. For familiar sense-object realms, its discernment can be somewhat clearer, and in this way they exert an unconscious, imperceptible influence on the manas, and can thus be stored as seeds.