The Wisdom of Manas and the Thought of Manas

The manas itself has no characteristics of language or sound, and does not engage in thinking through language. When it activates the mind, there is no sound involved. Thus, the mental activities and functioning characteristics of manas are hidden and difficult to discern, making them challenging to capture. When concentration is insufficient and the mind is not meticulous, it becomes exceedingly difficult to observe them. Consequently, misunderstandings about manas are inevitable.

Consciousness sometimes possesses wisdom and sometimes lacks it; similarly, manas sometimes possesses wisdom and sometimes lacks it. When the wisdom of consciousness functions well, it can assist manas in discernment and decision-making. However, if manas itself possesses wisdom, it does not require the wisdom of consciousness to assist it, or it may not need consciousness to aid in thinking and analysis—merely helping with discernment is sufficient. As long as manas discerns the coarse and subtle aspects of phenomena, it will immediately know how to handle and respond to them. When manas itself possesses wisdom, it functions in this manner. When manas lacks wisdom, it requires consciousness not only to assist in discernment but also to aid in thinking, analysis, reasoning, and judgment. Manas then deliberates based on the judgment of consciousness and makes its own decision, though this decision may not necessarily align with that of consciousness, and its choice may exceed consciousness's expectations.

When consciousness introspects the mind, it is the self-witnessing portion. If what consciousness observes is the mental activity of manas, it is the self-witnessing portion. However, when consciousness lacks wisdom, it may not necessarily distinguish whether it is observing its own mental activity or that of manas, and may regard both as its own mental activity. Therefore, many people say, "This is clearly the function of consciousness; how can it be said to be the function of manas?" In reality, it is because their own consciousness lacks the wisdom to clearly distinguish the differences and boundaries between consciousness and manas, and lacks the wisdom of the path. Truly discerning the functions of consciousness and manas is exceedingly difficult.