Why Does Manas Not Correspond to Words, Language, and Sounds?

Language, written characters, and sounds—the functioning of these dharmas cannot occur without the body faculty and body consciousness; they are produced through the combined operation of body consciousness and mental consciousness, representing the functional activity of the five-sense-accompanied consciousness. The emergence of language and sounds begins with the intention arising from the manas, which seeks to express one's thoughts and ideas. When the manas generates a thought, brainwaves fluctuate, and the intention is transmitted from the central nervous system to the corresponding system or region associated with the body faculty. This causes wind or air currents to initiate at the dantian region. This current of air surges upward, reaching the root of the tongue, where the sound stream emerges, thus forming language and sounds.

Therefore, speaking requires energy; when energy is insufficient, the voice becomes faint, or no sound can be produced. Language and sounds are produced through the combined and harmonious operation of mental consciousness and body consciousness, requiring the cooperation of the body faculty—the tongue, at this point, being part of the body faculty, does not function to perceive tactile or taste objects. Regarding written characters, writing or typing is produced through the combined and harmonious operation of mental consciousness and body consciousness, requiring the cooperation of the body faculty. Isolated consciousness can have internal mental sounds, and mental written forms can also appear within the mind. When isolated consciousness introspects, it can perceive its own inner voice and mental written forms.

The above pertains to the verbal and mental activities of the six consciousnesses, as well as physical activities. Physical activities can only be accomplished through the combined and harmonious operation of mental consciousness and the five sense consciousnesses, requiring the cooperation of the five faculties. Without the five faculties, the functioning of physical activities cannot be completed. The creation of physical, verbal, and mental activities by the six consciousnesses is instigated by the manas; it is the function of the manas's mental activity. The manas is like a commander, while the six consciousnesses are the executors of the commands. When the commander generates an intention, brainwaves transmit, and after the command is issued, the entire nervous system activates.

The intention of the manas resembles a signal or a code; mental consciousness can understand part or most of it, but with insufficient wisdom, it cannot comprehend it all. When the six consciousnesses execute commands and operate concretely, language, written characters, and sounds then appear—this is the functional activity of the operating system. The command system operates only in the form of codes and ciphers, without requiring the cooperation of the five faculties; thus, the mental activity of the manas is completed. Without the cooperation of the five faculties, written characters, language, and sounds naturally cannot appear.

When isolated consciousness departs from the physical body, without the cooperation of the five faculties, there are likewise no written characters, language, or sounds—one cannot speak or write. Mental thoughts are also similar to codes or ciphers, but mental consciousness understands them completely. Once understood, with the cooperation of the five faculties, they can be expressed as written characters, language, and sounds. If mental consciousness understands the mental thoughts of the manas, it can similarly express them through written characters, language, and sounds. Therefore, written characters, language, and sounds are tools for expressing mental thoughts. The manas cannot express itself in this way; it can only do so through mental consciousness and the five sense consciousnesses—except when possessing supernatural powers.

The codes and ciphers of the eighth consciousness can only be understood when the sixth and seventh consciousnesses transform into wisdom and attain a considerable degree of path-seed wisdom. Before this, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses cannot decipher them, yet they still enjoy the benefits and provisions bestowed by the eighth consciousness. While enjoying them, they remain unaware, mistakenly believing these benefits are obtained through their own efforts or are naturally theirs to possess. Codes require wisdom to decipher; without wisdom, one's attempts become clumsy and counterproductive. The terms "codes" and "ciphers" are metaphors used to illustrate the form of mental thoughts; there are no actual codes or ciphers.