Conscious Thought and the Deliberation of Manas

Question: Is the conclusion that 1+1 equals 2 derived from the thinking of the conscious mind or from the deliberation of the manas (root consciousness)?

Answer: 1+1=2. If you can be very certain, with reasoned arguments, and understand the principle behind it, then it is a conclusion derived by the manas. If, although you can arrive at 1+1=2, you do not know the principle behind it, cannot articulate it clearly, and only know this conclusion, then it is a conclusion drawn by the conscious mind based on learned theories, similar to rote memorization. Otherwise, why would scientists delve deeply into researching why 1+1 equals 2?

How much of the knowledge we learn from elementary school to university has been directly realized? Although we pass every exam, perhaps even scoring a hundred percent, exams test the understanding and memorization of knowledge, the mastery of information volume; very little tests direct realization. Only content in the laboratory involves direct realization. It is after entering society that direct realization becomes relevant, which is why many top students often struggle to adapt to society, failing to keep pace with its rhythm and unable to apply their learning.

Conclusions arrived at solely through the conscious mind's thinking and analysis cannot eradicate doubt; encountering conditions will lead to numerous doubts, causing one to no longer believe in previous conclusions. Therefore, conclusions derived from the conscious mind's thinking and analysis are not solid. The master (manas) harbors doubt; the master makes decisions, the master has its own views, and at critical moments, it will reject and discard the assistant's (conscious mind's) conclusions. This is why many who attain fruition and realize the mind through the conscious mind continually regress. The thinking and analysis of the conscious mind can occur without the support of meditative concentration (dhyāna) and can happen in a scattered state of mind. However, the deeper the meditative concentration, the more refined, accurate, thorough, and logically precise the conscious mind's thinking becomes. Yet, no matter how refined, accurate, and logical, it is not a conclusion derived by the manas itself. Therefore, it is not called direct realization; it lacks the virtue of severance (cutting off defilements), lacks true benefit, and cannot withstand birth and death.

The thinking of the conscious mind is often perceptible and observable by the conscious mind itself; it is relatively superficial and coarse compared to the manas. The thinking of the manas is deeper, more concealed, and not easily detected, but it can be continuous. Only when doubt is very deep does the manas deliberate to resolve it. This involves meditative concentration; continuous contemplation constitutes meditative concentration. Being steadfastly focused on investigating doubt is concentration (samādhi). No matter when or what one is doing, whether awake or asleep, the question remains in the mind; not understanding it can even cause agitation, poor eating, and poor sleep, like a lost soul. When the conscious mind is coarse, it remains unaware and ignorant of the manas's thinking, unable to detect it. One fails to discover matters within one's own mind, unaware of what one truly wants or intends to do, unable to grasp one's own thoughts. This is why so many people cannot discover the manas, do not understand it, cannot master it, and cannot observe it. Deliberating with the manas requires meditative concentration; the deeper the concentration, the better. It is best to eliminate interference from other miscellaneous affairs; ideally, the six consciousnesses should not disturb the manas either, merely cooperating with the manas to gently and subtly know, without provoking scattered thoughts in the manas.