Mental Factors of the Manas (I)

In the discernment of all dharmas and in the study and practice of the Buddhadharma, the mental factor of intention (manaskāra) arises in the seventh consciousness; in both cases, the intention of the manas is primary, and the intention of the manas triggers the intention of the six consciousnesses. The intention of the manas has preconditions—there are certain causes and conditions; when the causes and conditions differ, its intention also differs. Toward what it is interested in, it will intend and cling with craving; toward what it is not interested in or feels aversion toward, it will intend to immediately distance itself; toward what it deems unimportant, after intending, it will no longer make contact.

Desire (chanda) refers to aspiration, volition, yearning, and longing. For example, yearning for the land of bliss (Sukhāvatī): if it is merely the mind consciousness that yearns, while the manas does not yearn, it is useless—one cannot reach the land of bliss. Only when there is the manas's yearning and longing can one be reborn in the land of bliss. The manas's yearning is called deep faith and earnest vow.

If the manas has no ideas or aspirations, no endeavor can be accomplished. If the manas no longer longs for the worldly dharmas of the three realms, then at the end of life it will enter nirvāṇa without remainder (anupadhiśeṣa-nirvāṇa)—this is exactly how an arhat is: the manas does not long for any worldly dharma, having severed desire and craving for all dharmas of the world. Only if the manas wants to realize the fruits and yearns for seeing one's true mind and awakening to the true mind (mingxin jianxing) can it make the decision to diligently cultivate the Buddhadharma and fulfill the thirty-seven factors of the path. If the manas has no such idea or aspiration, this person simply cannot practice diligently; the ideas of the mind consciousness have no decisive effect—only when they have permeated and influenced the manas do they become effective.

If the manas does not want to study Buddhism, the mind consciousness cannot deliberate on the Buddhadharma; instead, it will deliberate on worldly dharmas and engage in worldly affairs. Intention means longing, means desire. If the manas has no desire, it will not make decisions, cannot incline toward a goal, will not take action, and the corresponding dharmas will not arise. When the mind consciousness wants to cultivate and wants to be diligent, if this has not permeated the manas, it is merely an idea; true diligence is impossible, and actual action is impossible—actual action is determined and carried out by the manas.