The Difference Between Consciousness and the Preference of the Mental Faculty

The liking of the mind can be broadly divided into two levels, or two degrees: the superficial liking belongs to consciousness, while the deep-seated liking belongs to manas (the root mind). The liking that cannot make decisions belongs to consciousness, whereas the liking that drives one to obtain the desired object by any means and take action to acquire it belongs to manas. Addiction, obsession, and persistently dwelling on something all stem from the liking of manas.

For instance, within a family, the head of the household holds the authority. Regarding a matter, there may be the child's liking and the parent's liking. However, no matter what the child likes, they cannot make decisions independently; they must obtain the parent's consent to acquire what they like. Conversely, the parent can obtain whatever they like through their own means. Here, the child corresponds to consciousness, while the parent corresponds to manas.

If the liking of consciousness influences manas, causing manas to also like or approve of what consciousness likes, then manas will decide to obtain the desired object and act to acquire it. The liking of consciousness is influenced, on the one hand, by manas and, on the other, by the external environment and the objects of the six dusts (sensory experiences). The liking of manas arises, on the one hand, from afflictive habits accumulated since beginningless time and, on the other, from the habitual tendencies imprinted by consciousness. If the liking of consciousness fails to influence manas, manas will disregard it, leaving consciousness to like in vain without obtaining the object.

For example, liking the Dharma (Buddhist teachings) begins with consciousness liking it first, followed by manas later developing a liking for it. If consciousness likes the Dharma but manas does not, one will not diligently cultivate it. However, if manas also likes the Dharma, one will diligently seek it out and cultivate it with perseverance. What enables one to persist steadfastly without giving up is the liking of manas. Intermittent effort indicates that manas is not particularly interested and is merely being pulled along or controlled by consciousness; once control weakens, manas disengages.