The Reflective Power of Manas

Can the manas introspect itself or not? If the consciousness lacks wisdom, it cannot observe or discern what the manas has done or is currently doing; indeed, when consciousness is without wisdom, it remains entirely unaware. Therefore, it is utterly unreasonable for so many people to place such faith in their own judgment.

Just as, throughout beginningless kalpas, our tathāgatagarbha has performed countless actions within the world of the five aggregates, yet our consciousness remains ignorant and fundamentally unaware of them. And due to this ignorance, it denies the existence of the tathāgatagarbha and its meritorious deeds. The fact that your consciousness is unaware does not mean it does not exist. Similarly, due to ignorance, the inability to observe the functioning of the manas does not mean the manas lacks those functions or cannot operate in such and such a manner.

When asleep, consciousness may be unaware that it is asleep, for there is no consciousness during sleep. But does the manas know you are asleep? The manas absolutely knows it is asleep. Therefore, the manas does not wish the body of the five aggregates to engage in activity. If the manas were unaware of being asleep, it would attempt to engage in all kinds of actions. However, the manas knows it is asleep and knows it is dark; thus, it does not wish to perceive the objects of the six dusts too extensively or in too much detail. None of the six consciousnesses manifest, and the body remains completely still. The manas knows that it itself is sleeping, so the manas possesses introspective awareness. It is merely that consciousness cannot observe the manas, leading one to claim that the manas is unaware of being asleep and lacks introspective power. In the case of deep sleep, the fact that consciousness is unaware does not mean the manas is unaware. This demonstrates a confusion between these two consciousnesses, mistaking the knowing or not-knowing of consciousness for the knowing or not-knowing of the manas.

Similarly, when unconscious, the manas certainly knows it is unconscious. Therefore, when conditions for regaining consciousness arise, it struggles vigorously to wake up and resume activity. During meditative absorption (samādhi), the manas also knows it is in samādhi; at the time of death, it knows death; and in a vegetative state, the manas is similarly aware. In all these special states, its mental activities and manifestations differ from the normal state. Hence, we arrive at a conclusion: only the ignorant claim that the manas knows nothing, does nothing, and is incapable of anything. If the manas were nothing at all, then what are you yourself? You would likewise be nothing! For you are nothing but the manas!