The Relationship between Manas, the Five Consciousnesses, and the Internal and External Five Sense Objects

First, the arising and functioning of the five consciousnesses originate from Manas (the mental faculty). If Manas does not engage in attention (manasikāra) and make choices, the five consciousnesses do not appear. After Manas engages in attention and makes choices, the five consciousnesses and the mental consciousness (mano-vijñāna) arise simultaneously, cognizing the six sense objects (viṣaya) at the point where Manas directs attention and contact (sparśa) occurs. Therefore, the appearance of the five consciousnesses is not determined by the mental consciousness but by Manas. The mental consciousness is merely one of the necessary conditions for the birth of the five consciousnesses; both must function together to cognize the complete sense objects. Their order of appearance is nearly simultaneous, and the birth and operation of the five consciousnesses are not determined by the mental consciousness.

Since Manas determines the birth of the five consciousnesses, why is Manas able to govern them? We know that the birth of the five consciousnesses is necessarily facilitated by the contact between the five sense faculties (indriya) and the five sense objects. However, this contact between the five sense faculties and the five sense objects is itself a result brought about by Manas. Both the five sense faculties and the five sense objects are material forms (rūpa), not consciousness (vijñāna); they do not actively contact each other and then decide to produce the five consciousnesses. It is Manas that causes the contact between the five sense faculties and the five sense objects and gives rise to the five consciousnesses.

Why can Manas cause the five sense faculties to contact the five sense objects? Because Manas grasps at (ālambana) the six sense objects, desiring to cognize them in detail. Manas does not grasp only at the mental objects (dharmadhātu) and contact them; rather, it grasps the entire sensory field, which comprehensively includes the five sense objects. If it grasped only the mental objects and not the five sense objects, the information about the sensory field would be incomplete, making it impossible for Manas to make decisions and choices, and the six consciousnesses would not arise. For example, when colorful flowers are present before one, the mental objects and the five sense objects combine to form the complete appearance of the flowers. If Manas does not grasp the five sense objects, it would not know the colors of the flowers. How then could it decide to touch the red, blue, or purple flowers? How could it choose a flower? The reason the six consciousnesses selectively cognize the sensory field is precisely because of Manas's choices regarding that field. This process necessarily involves the five sense objects, which constitute a significant and important portion of the six sense objects. Moreover, the five sense objects manifest first and are easily recognizable. Therefore, Manas does not grasp the six sense objects separately and then make choices.

For instance, when Manas grasps at the appearance of a person, it does not grasp only the mental object of the person while excluding the skin color or the color of their clothing. On the contrary, initially, it is the colors that are most prominent and attractive, followed by the finer mental objects. The same applies to other sensory fields. Thus, Manas grasps the five sense objects. Regarding the five sense objects before they enter the superior root (adhipati-indriya), Manas can certainly grasp them and make choices. For example, before a car accident occurs, Manas grasps the oncoming car, realizes an imminent collision, and urgently decides to avoid it. If Manas grasped only the mental object of the car and not the five sense objects of the car, how could it know there is an oncoming car about to collide? How could it decide to avoid the oncoming car? After a massive explosion occurs, if Manas does not grasp the five sense objects of the explosion sound, how could it decide to flee immediately?

After Manas makes any decision, the five consciousnesses immediately arise together with the mental consciousness to carry out Manas's command. This demonstrates that the birth of the five consciousnesses is determined by Manas, and they obey the commands of Manas together with the mental consciousness. Where the five consciousnesses and the mental consciousness cognize the sensory field, how long they cognize it, and which aspects they focus on are all directed and dominated by Manas. In summary, Manas is the sovereign consciousness (adhipati-vijñāna). It governs and makes decisions regarding the five sense faculties, the five sense objects, and the five consciousnesses. The relationship between them is one of active and passive, of dominance and submission.