The Relationship between Mind Consciousness and Manas

Question: Is the thought of the mind consciousness the content that the manas' thought focuses on? If so, one can retroactively deduce, from the thoughts of the mind consciousness, the dharmas that the manas is presently conforming to with conditions. Controlling the present thoughts of the mind consciousness would thereby indirectly control the object of the manas, and in this way, once the manas gradually becomes habituated, meditative concentration (samādhi) will arise. 

Answer: The dharmas that the mind consciousness and the manas take as objects should be the same; what the mind consciousness discerns must be the dharma that the manas is grasping at, otherwise there would be no need to give rise to the mind consciousness. The mind consciousness arises precisely to serve the manas, that is, to obey the manas; but after the mind consciousness arises and discerns the dharma, through thinking and analysis it develops its own views, and may then defy the manas, not according with the manas' wishes. If the mind consciousness holds correct views, it can gradually turn the manas around, but it also depends on the degree to which the manas can accept it. If the mind consciousness is too radical, it may well enrage the manas, and then it will not be able to get the manas onto the Path. Therefore, if the mind consciousness is clever and quick-witted, it will skillfully guide the manas; if the mind consciousness is dull, there will be no effect—perhaps it will even backfire, or perhaps it will be led around by the manas. A Buddhist practitioner's mind consciousness should hold this attitude toward the manas: "You lead me running wildly about, but I will not follow; you lead me into greed, anger, and delusion, but I will not follow." Gradually the manas will have no choice and will stop taking the lead, and will instead be led by the mind consciousness.