The Meaning of "Continuity" in the Manas's Continual Scrutiny and Deliberation

Since the manas is also a dharma subject to arising and ceasing, how should we understand the "continual" (恒) in its continual scrutiny and deliberation? "Continual" has two meanings: one is unborn and unceasing, existing forever without perishing; the other represents an extremely long and distant duration of time—remaining unchanged over a very long period, always being thus. The first kind of "continual" is that of the eighth consciousness; it is absolute, incomparable, unborn and unceasing. The second kind is the "continual" of the manas; the manas's "continual" is relative, meaning that so long as the manas does not perish, it forever maintains its deliberation unchanged.

The manas's "continual" can persist even after buddhahood without perishing, so wherever there is the manas, there exists the manas's nature of deliberation. However, not extinguishing the manas does not mean the manas cannot be extinguished. Arhats and pratyekabuddhas can both completely extinguish the manas and enter nirvāṇa without remainder; bodhisattvas of the seventh bhūmi and above, as well as all buddhas, can completely extinguish the manas yet deliberately choose not to. The manas is produced by the eighth consciousness transmitting seeds of consciousness; it depends on the eighth consciousness to be born and to function—it is not an originally existing dharma that is unborn and unceasing. Once the manas no longer grasps at the worldly dharmas of the three realms, the eighth consciousness will no longer transmit seeds of consciousness to the manas, and the manas perishes. Therefore, the "continual" in the manas's continual scrutiny and deliberation is only spoken of in relative terms in contrast to the six consciousnesses; it cannot be compared with the "continual" of the eighth consciousness.