The Knowing of Consciousness Becomes Effective Only Through the Perfuming of Manas

Many people experience afflictions, which negatively impact both themselves and others. The conscious mind knows it should not be this way, yet it feels utterly helpless. The conscious mind cannot control the manas (ego-mind), so it can only allow the manas to manifest afflictions and be dominated by it. The conscious mind knows it shouldn’t be this way, but its understanding is not thorough; the manas remains unaware, making it impossible to avoid afflictions. The conscious mind should contemplate diligently to influence the manas. Once the manas comprehends the truth, the conscious mind can then control it, and thus achieve freedom from afflictions.

It is the manas, laden with ignorance and afflictions, that proceeds to the next life, not the conscious mind. Therefore, whatever the conscious mind learns, understands, or comprehends must be instilled into the manas without fail. Otherwise, once the conscious mind perishes, the manas, being ignorant and unaware, will reincarnate, leading to unfavorable karmic retribution. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. If the knowledge, understanding, and learning acquired by the conscious mind are not stored in the repository, once the conscious mind perishes, there will be no usable seeds for the next life. Wouldn’t that be a pity?