Clinging to Dharmic Phenomena Is Governed by Manas

The seven consciousnesses all possess the grasping nature toward the dharmas they encounter and cherish, but ultimately, it is the manas (mind-root) that seizes them, thereby storing them as karmic seeds to be transmitted to future lives. The grasping of the six consciousnesses is also initially initiated and determined by the manas. When the manas encounters the six dusts (objects of sense), if it has an interest in investigating the dharmas within them, it gives rise to the six consciousnesses to discern them. After the six consciousnesses discern, sensation and craving arise, which may then lead to grasping mental activities. After the manas discerns the appearances of the six dusts discerned by the six consciousnesses, it gives rise to sensation and craving, followed by grasping mental activities. Consequently, the six consciousnesses become incessantly attached.

The consciousnesses that grasp dharma appearances primarily consist of two: the mental consciousness and the manas. The five sense consciousnesses also possess this function, but their role is minimal and can be disregarded. When the mental consciousness encounters dharma objects (mental objects), it is the mental consciousness that grasps the dharma appearances. Subsequently, based on the discernment and craving-grasping of the mental consciousness, the manas also gives rise to craving-grasping mental activities. After the manas grasps, the result manifests. Before the mental consciousness discerns the dharma appearances, the manas also has contact and grasping; however, the manas does not have complete knowledge of the dharma appearances. Therefore, the purpose of grasping the dharma appearances is for the six consciousnesses to discern them, the mental consciousness to deliberate, and finally for a decision to be made. Regarding the appearances of the five dusts (objects of the five senses), the five sense consciousnesses also have grasping, but the five sense consciousnesses lack decision-making authority. Their grasping mind is extremely subtle; when wisdom is insufficient, it is exceedingly difficult to observe the mental activities of the five sense consciousnesses and to distinguish them from the mental consciousness. The mental factors (caitasika) of the five sense consciousnesses are generally bound together with those of the mental consciousness and manas, making them unobservable, hence they are overlooked.