The Distinction Between Manas and Mano-vijñāna Prajñā

Question: So-called memory refers to the storage of content experienced by the first six consciousnesses with the participation of the manas, which can later be recalled under the guidance of the mental consciousness when needed. Understanding, on the other hand, involves the mental consciousness guiding with wisdom, triggering the manas to contemplate, thereby enabling the manas to grasp the internal connections and principles of things. Consequently, when encountering related issues, there is no need for recollection; the manas directly provides answers and handles the matter. Therefore, when the manas possesses wisdom, problem-solving is concise and swift. When the manas lacks wisdom, it must search through memories, resulting in prolonged and inefficient problem-solving. Is the above understanding correct?

Answer: The above understanding is largely correct. Recollection is performed by the mental consciousness, but it is initiated and decided by the manas. Understanding is primarily an act of the mental consciousness, but it also involves, to a greater or lesser extent, the understanding of the manas. When the manas lacks wisdom, it requires recollection by the mental consciousness, followed by comparison, weighing, and deliberation before making a decision, whether right or wrong. The shallower the wisdom, the longer the time spent comparing and weighing, leading to greater indecisiveness and less confidence. That kind of decisive choice, like cutting the Gordian knot, which requires no mental deliberation, analysis, comparison, or evaluation, is a direct choice made by the manas, whether wise or unwise. Solving matters silently, without expending mental effort, without turning things over repeatedly in the mind, automatically and quietly, all this is the wisdom of the manas. People who are adept at handling affairs possess wisdom in their manas; they are experienced and can resolve matters smoothly and flawlessly, leaving no room for criticism.

Students whose manas lack wisdom generally rely on rote memorization through the mental consciousness. They cannot freely apply their knowledge and are at a loss when encountering non-knowledge-based problems. In contrast, students whose manas possess wisdom never wish to memorize; they understand the problem and then freely apply their knowledge. Therefore, in school examinations, those who achieve high scores are not necessarily truly wise students. It depends on whether the exam questions test knowledge-based content or application-based content, whether they examine knowledge or wisdom.                The same applies to the Buddha Dharma. Those who can expound extensively on theories are not necessarily individuals with verified wisdom. If someone has read many books, is erudite and well-informed, possesses broad knowledge and strong memory, and can skillfully use the mental consciousness to organize, categorize, summarize, and analyze the Dharma they have learned, they may compile a theoretical system. However, this does not necessarily represent verified wisdom; it could merely be an accumulation of knowledge.

The accumulation of knowledge cannot eradicate afflictions; it merely indicates a clever mental consciousness. Learning the Dharma from someone clever in mental consciousness may yield much theoretical knowledge, but actual verification is difficult. Learning the Dharma from someone with verified realization facilitates verification, even if their knowledge is not necessarily extensive. However, after verification, wisdom increases, enabling the gradual expansion of knowledge and the supplementation of necessary theoretical understanding.

When the manas possesses wisdom, the wisdom is profound, free from afflictions, broad in perspective, expansive in mind, bold and insightful, with long-term vision. It accurately discerns major rights and wrongs and does not err. In contrast, the cleverness of the mental consciousness lacks profound, deep wisdom; the mind's capacity is not broad enough, and it risks being misled by its own cleverness. A person's innate wisdom is brought by the manas; it is the wisdom of the manas. Acquired wisdom is newly learned; it is the wisdom of the mental consciousness, but it may also involve the wisdom of the manas.