Are Physical, Verbal, and Mental Karma Created by Consciousness or Manas?

All actions of body, speech, and mind are fabricated by consciousness, driven by the ignorance of the mental faculty (manas). If the mental faculty were free from ignorance, it would not prompt consciousness to fabricate karmic activities tainted by ignorance. This is explained in the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination: the ignorance of the mental faculty prompts the arising of volitional formations within the mental faculty, leading to the decision to engage in actions of body, speech, and mind. After the mental faculty makes this decision, consciousness and the five sensory consciousnesses arise, fabricating actions of body, speech, and mind that align with the mental faculty's inclinations and choices. The mental faculty is the master, while consciousness merely obeys its regulation.

For example, a five-year-old child going out to buy soy sauce is directed by an adult; the adult manages household supplies at home and sends the child to buy more when they run low. Similarly, an employee's work is assigned and arranged by a manager, and the employee must follow the manager's directives. Likewise, the functioning of all sectors of society is deployed by the nation's top leadership core; subordinate units must carry out work according to the arrangements of the higher leadership departments and cannot disobey orders.

Superficially, the actions of body, speech, and mind of sentient beings appear to be fabricated by consciousness and the five sensory consciousnesses. In essence, however, they manifest the will and assertions of the mental faculty, reflecting its habits and tendencies. The coordinated functioning of the five aggregates relies on the harmonious operation of this master-servant relationship (mental faculty and consciousness). If they fail to operate harmoniously, it can lead to mental splitting and collapse of the mental faculty, resulting in mental illness.

Of course, when the mental faculty lacks understanding of certain dharmas (phenomena), it may have no opinion or assertion of its own and may follow the views and opinions of consciousness, sometimes even blindly. It may not fully comprehend the implications of what consciousness advocates. In such cases, consciousness appears strong. However, if the mental faculty possesses wisdom, consciousness cannot surpass it in strength; the mental faculty always remains the master, making its own decisions.