The manas never rests

As for what the mind consciousness has already discerned, there is no need to think about it again; the manas silently deliberates on it by itself. The manas's method of deliberation is very special, differing from the mind consciousness's thinking. What is special is that it is extremely difficult for the mind consciousness to observe the manas's deliberative nature and its manner of deliberation. Therefore, many people deny that the manas has any thinking or cognitive activity, denying that the manas has any mental activity at all. These people are far too reckless and far too self-assured.

When there is no speech and the mind is silent, the mind consciousness is not thinking, yet the manas is working away, never having stopped. The mind consciousness can frequently cease its thinking activity and enter states of rest and sleep, but the manas never rests; it continuously and unceasingly deliberates and ponders over all kinds of issues, in a very hidden manner that the mind consciousness cannot detect. When the manas deliberates, it does so very deeply and is difficult to observe; it can consume the brain's energy and cause neural fluctuations in brainwaves.

Therefore, when a person is not speaking or analyzing, we must never assume that this person has no thoughts, no views, no ideas, that their mental activity has stopped and all is quiet. It is not so. Their manas is rapidly turning and operating, deliberating, weighing, and examining, very deeply and very covertly. Afterward, their mind will have a settled rule, an idea, a position, a decision—but it does not necessarily have to be spoken out, does not necessarily have to be expressed, does not necessarily have to be made known to others. Yet the mind has indeed gained strength, and the attitude becomes resolute, even unshakable.

Whereas when the mind consciousness, through thinking, analysis, and reflection, arrives at a result and a decision, the mind is not actually like that—it still hesitates and remains undecided, unable to make up its mind, because the manas does not know or understand, and there must be doubt in the mind.