What Is Meant by Perfuming the Manas

When the mind consciousness deliberates on dharmas, it forms its own thoughts, concepts, views, and knowledge; at the same time, this exerts a perfuming effect on the manas. The process of deliberation can perfume the manas, and when the mind consciousness deliberates with focused attention, the perfuming penetrates more deeply into the mind of the manas, making the effect of perfuming more evident. If it draws the manas's attention and serious regard, that is the most initial effect; if the manas gives rise to alertness and deliberation, the effect becomes more pronounced; if the manas's deliberation is focused and deep, and moreover accords with reason and the Dharma, the effect of perfuming becomes even more evident; if the manas's deliberation begins to find a thread to follow, the effect starts to manifest; if the manas deliberates out the flavor of the dharma and makes a preliminary choice, the real effect has emerged; if the manas reaches a very clear and reasonable conclusion, firmly affirms what it has deliberated, and makes the corresponding choice and judgment, then the perfuming can be said to have succeeded. Once the manas is transformed, all subsequent mental actions will be transformed, revolving around the manas's judgments and choices—that is when the perfuming has reached completion.