Dual Personality as the Multifaceted Nature of Manas

When a person has dual personalities, is it that consciousness and the manas each have a personality, or that the manas has two personalities? When the first personality manifests, the physical, verbal, and mental actions take one form; when the second personality manifests, the physical, verbal, and mental actions take another form. The two personalities differ or are even diametrically opposed, as if they were two different people.

Why does the phenomenon of multiple personalities occur? It is because the manas has multiple psychological needs and desires that cannot be reconciled, leading to the emergence of multiple personalities to satisfy different desires or to manifest multiple characters. In other words, when one cannot satisfy one's own desires, when multiple characters cannot coexist harmoniously, or when diverse experiences cannot be integrated, multiple personalities form as a way to accommodate various desires and selves. When the manas becomes too entangled and cannot resolve its contradictions, it forcibly divides itself into two or more parts.

Through the phenomenon of multiple personalities, one can gain an early understanding of the manifested bodies and reward bodies of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The reward body is the body manifested by the manas, while the manifested body is an emanation—a differentiation of the six consciousnesses produced by the will of the manas. The differing physical, verbal, and mental actions of dual personalities correspond to the differing functions of multiple emanations of the six consciousnesses. The manifested bodies of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have different identities and functions. The vow-power of Guanyin Bodhisattva is such that she manifests whatever form is necessary to teach and liberate sentient beings. "Whatever form" refers to countless manifested bodies, created by the manas's intention to liberate sentient beings. A single Bodhisattva may use two or more manifested identities to enter the world, and these physical bodies may not be aware of each other.

The vow-power of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is vast and profound. A single physical body cannot fulfill so many, so great, and so profound vows; thus, they manifest countless emanations to accomplish their numerous vows. The manas is the sovereign consciousness. As long as it possesses sufficient merit, meditative concentration, physical capability, and vow-power, it will sovereignly differentiate, manifesting numerous sets of six-consciousness bodies. Each set of six-consciousness bodies has its own set of physical, verbal, and mental actions; multiple sets have multiple sets of actions, each distinct, yet all governed by the same manas and Tathāgatagarbha. In contrast, the personalities in multiple personalities are governed by different aspects, characters, wills, or aspirations of the same manas.

After studying Consciousness-Only teachings, one should be able to become a psychological counselor, psychologist, or psychological guide, engaging in psychological research and guidance. You will perceive others' psychological states at a glance—no one can hide from you or deceive you—and thus master others' minds to skillfully guide them. Worldly people are all bound by greed, hatred, and delusion, clinging to the five aggregates as self. Without seeing through the phenomenal world, they naturally cannot resolve psychological issues. With contemplation and observation, you will integrate all Dharma principles, clearly see the future trajectory, feel optimistic about the prospects of Buddhist practice and realization, and perceive a bright path ahead.