How to Accurately Understand the Function of Manas

Why do some people always believe that the seventh consciousness, the mind faculty (manas), is incapable of anything? It is because the vast majority can only perceive the functional roles of the surface consciousness and fail to see the functions of the mind faculty. Consequently, they attribute all the functions of the five aggregates to consciousness alone, overlooking and negating the mind faculty's role as the sovereign consciousness. They do not realize that the mind faculty is the precursor to all dharmas, and that the very emergence of all dharmas, along with consciousness's ability to contact, discern, and process them, is entirely the result of the mind faculty's choices. The mind faculty is the head of the household of the five-aggregate body.

If a useless entity incapable of anything were to take charge, one can easily imagine the state such a household would be in. Yet, in the world, there exist many individuals of great merit and wisdom whose five-aggregate bodies perform numerous wholesome and wise deeds, all of which are the result of the mind faculty's guidance. Even in animals, the functional role of the mind faculty is exceptionally superior, beyond comparison with the six consciousnesses. Consider this: in any group, large or small, why do members follow the leader's arrangements and directives? Is it solely due to authority, or is there nothing else? If the leader were incompetent and utterly incapable, yet the members still obeyed unquestioningly, would that not imply that the members are even weaker and more incapable?

A national president or head of state cannot possibly be like their subordinates, proficient in every specific task and skill, nor can they take on all the work of a secretary. They stand at the commanding height, overseeing the entire situation, and cannot engage in specific tasks. You cannot claim that because the head of state does not personally address specific public matters, perform specific work, or master specific technologies, they are not working. They are the leader, responsible for the overall picture and strategic arrangements. Their role differs from the division of labor among the six consciousnesses; each has its own responsibilities, operating in harmony to effectively manage the entire nation. Similarly, within a five-aggregate body, the mind faculty stands at the commanding height, governing the whole. It cannot, like consciousness, engage in the meticulous and detailed discernment of specific phenomena, involving thinking, reasoning, organizing, summarizing, calculating, analyzing, scrutinizing—all done with extreme precision and thoroughness. Its energy does not permit such activity. Only when meditative concentration reaches a certain level, with increased energy and vitality, can it replace the six consciousnesses and eliminate them. The mind faculty of an ordinary being can only use the six consciousnesses to handle specific matters and respond to specific phenomena; otherwise, the six consciousnesses would have no reason to exist.