The Difference Between Dvesha in Mental Consciousness and Dvesha in the Mind Faculty

Question: When anger arises, does the manas (mind faculty) generate anger simultaneously with the consciousness, or is it only the consciousness that generates anger? What is the manas doing at that time? Why, even after consciousness has rationally understood the matter that provoked anger through right view, does the mind still feel depressed and painful? Is the manas still fixated on that matter? Or is the manas not involved? The principles of the matter are quickly understood by consciousness, yet only after the manas also comprehends them does the mind suddenly feel liberated and comfortable. But this depression dissipates very slowly. Is it because the manas cannot understand principles as quickly as consciousness?

Answer: What gives rise to all the mental activities and manifestations of consciousness? Then consider, what causes consciousness to arise? It arises because when the manas contacts the dharmas (mental objects), the tathagatagarbha (Buddha-nature) gives birth to it. What are the dharmas? They are the anger-provoking content contacted by the manas. When the manas contacts anger-provoking dharmas and desires to act out, once the mental factor of volition (cetanā) makes a decision, the tathagatagarbha gives birth to consciousness to fulfill the manas's intention. Thus, consciousness arises and manifests anger. When the manas intends to act, it inevitably requires consciousness to assist it, because without a helper, the manas cannot act upon certain dharmas; it needs consciousness to aid its actions. It is at this point that consciousness can arise. Consciousness is the spokesperson and tool of the manas, expressing the manas's inner voice.

So how does the phenomenon of consciousness becoming angry arise? It is because the manas is angry and wants to vent, to express its angry attitude. The tathagatagarbha then cooperates by giving birth to consciousness, using consciousness to express the manas's anger. Once consciousness is born, it manifests angry mental activities.

When the manas generates anger, it is genuine anger; when only consciousness is angry, it is false anger. Genuine anger from the manas has various manifestations: facial expressions like flushing and neck bulging, verbal actions like harsh speech, bodily postures like fuming with anger or even physical violence. These are all co-created by consciousness and body consciousness, produced in accordance with the manas's mental activities, fully expressing the manas's mental state. When consciousness alone is angry, it occurs when consciousness perceives a situation as somewhat unsatisfactory, but the manas feels indifferent and remains calm. This kind of anger lacks force, does not lead to serious actions, and is merely an act.

However, their reactions after anger differ, with varying levels of awareness. Consciousness may immediately reflect upon itself, observing these actions and manifestations. Consciousness might recognize that anger is wrong, and it can quickly understand why it is wrong through reasoning. Although consciousness understands, the manas does not yet comprehend. It remains angry, fuming. Consciousness may say: "Don't be angry, don't be angry, it was our own fault to begin with." Even with this advice, the manas still does not understand and remains angry. Sometimes the manas completely loses control, wanting to hit someone. Consciousness says: "Don't hit, hitting is bad." But the manas does not listen, so while saying "don't hit," it raises a hand and strikes anyway. Thus, even when consciousness is rational and understands principles, it may not necessarily control the manas. If the manas insists on acting out, consciousness has no choice but to assist and cooperate, compelled to obey the command of the manas, its master.

Our mental activities are divided into the level of consciousness and the level of the manas. The level of consciousness is passive and must obey the will of the manas. For consciousness to dominate, it must influence and successfully condition the manas. Only then can the manas make decisions that align with consciousness's thoughts. If consciousness fails to condition the manas, and the manas persists in acting according to its own mental tendencies, then no amount of persuasion from consciousness is useful. Telling it not to be angry has no effect—it remains angry. Telling it not to act a certain way is futile—it insists on doing so. There is no alternative. Helpless, consciousness complies while objecting. To say one thing but do another means the manas refuses to heed consciousness's advice, acts willfully, and cannot act according to consciousness's instructions, resulting in inconsistent mental and physical actions.