The Quality of Drinking Conduct and Character Lies in Manas

The state after drinking reflects the habitual tendencies of the manas (mind faculty) and reveals its true nature. Alcohol anesthetizes the brain nerves, weakening the functioning of the five sense faculties. Consequently, the discernment power of the six consciousnesses born from them diminishes. As these six "scouts" cannot accurately perceive the objects of the six senses, the manas either partially or completely severs the flow of incoming information. The role of the manovijñāna (mental consciousness) as an advisor and assistant becomes less effective, its thinking power weakens, and its ability to supervise, guide, and regulate the manas is reduced. Thus, the manas acts according to its inherent nature. At this point, relying solely on its own wisdom, the true character and quality of the manas are fully revealed. The saying "drunken words are sober thoughts" means that the words spoken after drinking are entirely the true voice of the person's manas, reflecting their genuine thoughts, stripped of the concealment and pretense imposed by the manovijñāna. What people commonly refer to as "drinking behavior" and "character integrity" actually point to the quality of the manas—this is a person's true nature.