The Vedanā of Manas

The mental faculty (manas) is not limited to neutral feeling alone; it also experiences pleasant and unpleasant feelings. Because the mental faculty is afflicted by ignorance and defilements, and possesses wholesome and unwholesome mental factors, it inevitably experiences pleasant and unpleasant feelings. Due to these pleasant and unpleasant feelings, greed and hatred arise as afflictions. If the mental faculty experienced only neutral feeling, one would remain unmoved even when beaten, scolded, humiliated, or insulted. Although the consciousness (vijñāna) might feel upset, it would pass quickly without leading to any retaliatory actions. This reflects the virtuous cultivation and character of high-level practitioners, qualities ordinary people fundamentally lack. If the mental faculty experienced only neutral feeling, one would remain unmoved even when praised to the skies or when confronted with power, sensual pleasures, fame, and profit. One would not chase after power, sensual pleasures, fame, or profit, remaining indifferent to glory, wealth, and status. Although the consciousness might feel some fondness for these things, it would be merely a slight liking and would not translate into any action or initiative. This is the virtuous cultivation of high-level practitioners, a state ordinary people fundamentally do not attain.