The Knowing of Different Consciousness-Minds

The eighth consciousness, the seventh consciousness, and the sixth consciousness—all three consciousnesses have knowing; only the objects and contents of their knowing differ from one another. Detailed knowing of states is necessarily the knowing of the mind consciousness. The eighth consciousness knows the mental activities and aspirations of the manas; the seventh consciousness knows the information discerned and the choices made by the mind consciousness; both the eighth and seventh consciousnesses know the sense faculties and the body; the eighth consciousness knows the seeds and karmic conditions.

The mind consciousness also has the mental factor of volition (cetanā); after discerning a certain person or matter, it must also make choices. To choose is to affirm or negate, to render a judgment, and then to give rise to subsequent thoughts and ideas. The volition of the manas is what takes charge and decides what the six consciousnesses should do in the next instant. When the manas makes a choice, with the cooperation of the tathāgatagarbha, the six consciousnesses will certainly take action. The choices of the mind consciousness cannot necessarily take action; they must be approved by the manas. Only when the manas decides can action be taken—this is still the function of the manas's volitional choosing.

Knowing whether one has thoughts or not is the power of introspection (pratyavekṣā-bala) of the mind consciousness; it is the knowing of the mind consciousness. The manas does not analyze. The content discerned by the manas is unknown to the mind consciousness—this is called being baffled and unable to fathom.

In an emergency, the mind consciousness makes a quick discernment with no time to analyze, and thus cannot influence the manas. The manas makes its choice based on past experience; the mind consciousness merely conveys the discerned information rapidly to the manas.

If the manas has not eradicated grasping at self, it cannot vanish and perish. Directing the activities of the body is the function of the manas. The mind consciousness may wish to direct the body, but it must obtain the manas's consent and have the manas issue the command; only when the six consciousnesses move can the body move. If the six consciousnesses do not arise and are not active, the body cannot move.