The Principle of Mental Recitation

The manas (mental faculty) is the master consciousness; physical, verbal, and mental actions are all regulated and dominated by the manas. Silent recitation of mantras in the mind operates similarly: when the manas intends to recite silently, the mental consciousness (mano-vijñāna) recites internally without vocalizing. Vocalized recitation is also performed by the mental consciousness, occurring when the manas desires to recite, prompting the mental consciousness to do so. It is also possible that the mental consciousness initiates the desire to recite, and only when the manas approves can the mental consciousness proceed. In summary, the act of recitation is decided by the manas and executed by the mental consciousness.

Why does the manas choose between vocalized or silent recitation? This decision is extremely subtle and difficult to observe. The mental consciousness often perceives it as automatic and natural, a perception indicating that the mental consciousness is coarse and lacks meditative concentration (samādhi), rendering it unable to discern the subtle and hidden aspects. The manas decides between vocalized and silent recitation based on the state of body and mind, specifically determined by whether the body's internal energy (qi) is sufficient. During meditative absorption, when the mind becomes active, it feels weary; vocal recitation requires greater exertion, causing the mental consciousness to feel fatigued, so the manas automatically chooses silence. When the body is exhausted, it also opts for silent internal recitation. Superficially, this appears automatic, but in reality, it is because the manas, relying on the eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna), perceives the state of body and mind extremely swiftly and intimately, enabling it to make decisions beneficial to the body and mind rapidly. Most people's mental consciousness is unaware of these processes.

Silent recitation can increase meditative concentration, or conversely, when meditative concentration strengthens, vocal recitation becomes difficult. Vocal recitation feels mentally taxing, leading to an automatic shift to silent recitation. When meditative concentration further strengthens, even silent recitation becomes tiring, so it transitions to vajra recitation (moving the lips without sound, with the inner mental sound becoming faint). When vajra recitation also feels forced, it shifts to mental recollection. When meditative concentration strengthens further, even mental recollection becomes unsustainable, leading to entry into deep concentration (samādhi), where there are no thoughts or mental activities whatsoever.