A Brief Explanation of Consciousness-Nature (74)

8. The perception of visual consciousness lacks conceptualization, while the perception of mental consciousness involves conceptualization. For instance, visual consciousness perceives sunlight and perceives its glare, yet it holds no concept of "sunlight," no verbal designation for "sunlight," no concept of "glare," and no verbal designation for "glare." Only when mental consciousness jointly discerns the sunlight with visual consciousness does mental consciousness recognize it as sunlight and recognize that sunlight is glaring. However, closing the eyes to avoid sunlight is a decision made by the manas (mental faculty). Visual consciousness and mental consciousness merely execute this action unconsciously and rapidly. Why can manas make decisions so swiftly? Because the instantaneous discernment of sunlight by visual consciousness and mental consciousness is transmitted to manas. Manas can instantaneously comprehend this information, and crucially, comprehend it correctly, enabling it to make correct and reasonable decisions to pursue benefit and avoid harm. If the object discerned by visual and mental consciousness is an unfamiliar material form (rūpa) to manas, then manas cannot make a decision so quickly. This is because manas may not necessarily comprehend the transmitted material form rationally; it needs to deliberate and examine until it understands clearly before making a decision. There are also times when manas cannot understand the transmitted material form even after deliberation. In such cases, if it is forced to make a decision, it will make an erroneous one. Therefore, the speed, correctness, and reasonableness of manas's decisions also depend on its experience and wisdom.