Why Does Manas Not Respond to Written/Spoken Language and Sounds?

Language and sound, corresponding to consciousness, are functions of consciousness, accomplished jointly with the five sense-consciousnesses. Therefore, this consciousness is the five-accompanying consciousness; it cannot exist apart from the five sense-consciousnesses and thus cannot exist apart from the body faculty. The emergence of language and sound begins with the intention arising from the manas (mind root), which seeks to express one's thoughts and ideas. When the manas stirs a thought, brain waves fluctuate, and the intention is transmitted via the central nervous system to the corresponding system or location of the body faculty. This causes wind or an air current to initiate at the dantian region. This air current surges upward, reaching the root of the tongue, where the sound stream emerges, forming language and speech. Hence, speaking requires physical energy; insufficient energy results in a weak voice or the inability to produce sound. Language and sound are produced through the combined operation of consciousness and body-consciousness, requiring the cooperation of the body faculty. The tongue, being part of the body faculty at this time, does not function to perceive touch or taste objects. Regarding writing or typing, it is produced through the combined operation of consciousness and body-consciousness, requiring the cooperation of the body faculty. The solitary consciousness (mano-vijñāna) can have an inner voice, and mental images of text can also appear within the mind. When solitary consciousness introspects, it can perceive its own inner voice and mental text images.

The above pertains to the verbal and mental formations of the six consciousnesses, as well as bodily formations. Bodily formations can only be completed through the combined operation of consciousness and the five sense-consciousnesses, requiring the cooperation of the five sense faculties. Without the five sense faculties, the operation of bodily formations cannot be accomplished. The formations of body, speech, and mind by the six consciousnesses are instigated by the manas; they are the function of the manas' intention. The manas is like a commander, while the six consciousnesses are the executors of the commands. When the commander forms an intention, brain waves move, commands are issued, and the entire nervous system activates. The intention of the manas is like a signal or code, which consciousness can understand partially or mostly, but cannot fully comprehend without wisdom. When the six consciousnesses execute commands and operate concretely, language, text, and sound then appear. This is the functional role of the operating system. The command system operates only in the form of code; it does not require the cooperation of the five sense faculties, thus the mental formation of the manas is completed. Without the cooperation of the five sense faculties, language, text, and sound naturally cannot appear.

When solitary consciousness departs from the physical body, lacking the cooperation of the five sense faculties, there is similarly no language, text, or sound; one cannot speak or write. Mental thoughts are also similar to code, but consciousness understands them completely. Once understood, with the cooperation of the five sense faculties, they can be expressed as language, text, and sound. If consciousness understands the mental thoughts of the manas, it can similarly express them through language, text, and sound. Therefore, language, text, and sound are tools for expressing mental thoughts. The manas cannot express itself in this way; it can only express through consciousness and the five sense-consciousnesses.

The code of the eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna) can only be understood when the sixth and seventh consciousnesses transform into wisdom and possess a considerable degree of the wisdom of the path (mārga-jñāna). Before this, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are unable to decipher it, yet they can enjoy the benefits bestowed by the eighth consciousness without realizing it, mistakenly believing these benefits were obtained through their own efforts or are naturally theirs. Code requires wisdom to decipher; without wisdom, one may spoil things by undue haste. The terms "code" and "password" are metaphors used to illustrate the form of mental thoughts; there is no actual code or password.

In the middle of the night when asleep, the six consciousnesses cease. If a fire breaks out in the room and the manas intends to flee, what can be done? This intention of the manas, without the cooperation of the body faculty or the six consciousnesses, cannot be realized no matter what. Therefore, it is not that the manas has extremely low wisdom and can do nothing, but rather that whatever it intends to do requires tools to utilize. Without tools, it has no means, much like an imbecile.