Only the Realization of the Manas Can Give Rise to Wisdom

Regarding the issue of the power of wisdom (prajñā-bala) of the manas: all the wisdom possessed by the mind consciousness must land upon the manas in order to be considered successful, for seeds to be stored, for it to be useful in future lives, and ultimately for the manas's power of wisdom to perform all functions. For the manas to realize the fruits—from the first fruit to the fourth fruit—and if one wishes to see the mind, from the initial seeing of the mind to becoming a Buddha, it is all the wisdom of the manas that takes effect. The result of the mind consciousness's wisdom is to make the manas wise, to enable the manas to transform consciousness into wisdom, to be endowed with great wisdom, and ultimately to become a Buddha.

The difference between the wisdom of the mind consciousness and the wisdom of the manas lies in this: the mind consciousness has the function of logical thinking, analysis, and inference, and can engage in rather abstract thinking. The manas, however, cannot think abstractly; it requires concreteness, with plot and imagery—the more direct perception, the better; the more realistic, the better. The manas has great difficulty with analytical thinking ability and can hardly perform logical reasoning and judgment; in this respect it relies on the mind consciousness, while in other matters of direct-perception measurement it can rely entirely on itself—though of course, having the mind consciousness as an aid is best and fastest. Therefore, when there are pictures, images, and scenes with plots unfolding before one, the manas corresponds more readily, the mind consciousness's memory is more firm, and understanding comes very easily—that is precisely the reason. When the six faculties interpenetrate and function mutually, the manas takes the place of the mind consciousness and also takes the place of the five consciousnesses. The Śūraṅgama Sūtra's account of Mahākāśyapa's perfect and clear knowing, not depending on mental thought, illustrates exactly this principle.