The Transformation of Manas through Conditioning

Question: As a disciple, I contemplate that the physical body is suffering, empty, impermanent, and without self. Reflecting on myself and others, I see birth, aging, sickness, death, eating, drinking, excretion—all beyond personal control. During ordinary walking, contemplation is shallow, but when I settle into deeper reflection, a joyful sensation arises in my body and mind, as if entering a new realm, as though body and mind have stepped into another state. I greatly enjoy this feeling. Is this sensation a sign that the manas (mind-root) is being subtly influenced?

Answer: Genuine joy arises from the manas, manifesting in the physical body and the conscious mind. It is through the subtle influence on the manas that various changes occur in body and mind, including sensations of suffering, joy, and neutral feelings. When the manas gains new understanding and shifts in thought and perspective, it drives transformation in body and mind. Consistently contemplating and observing that the five aggregates are without self, along with other Buddhist principles, causes the manas and the transformations in body and mind to deepen and multiply. Ultimately, quantitative change leads to qualitative transformation—a complete rebirth, like a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate—turning the ordinary into the sacred.

Question: Once, while driving, I was contemplating. At first, my thoughts were scattered, but suddenly all distractions vanished. Then, the surroundings felt utterly unfamiliar, as if I no longer recognized the road. Everything I saw felt fresh, even the air seemed exceptionally clear. I became lost, despite it being a road I knew very well. Why did this feeling arise?

Answer: Because the mind became fully focused on contemplating the Dharma, attention was no longer fixed on the external sensory environment. The conscious mind’s single-pointed contemplation allowed the manas to gain deeper insight into the Dharma, filling the heart with joy. Thus, everything appeared pleasant. The mind can transform phenomena, and circumstances change according to the mind. This is a temporary fruit experienced during the cultivation process, not the ultimate result—which is exceedingly sublime. Without undergoing these stages of spiritual practice and accumulating their effects, no one should claim to possess any fruit. A plastic fruit is nothing to boast about.