Who Governs the Bodily, Verbal, and Mental Activities of the Six Consciousnesses?

The phenomena created by the six consciousnesses are determined by the seventh consciousness, the manas (mind-root), which represents the mental formations of the manas. The superficial actions, verbal and physical deeds, and mental activities of the consciousness are all governed by the manas. Actions of body, speech, and mind may follow the decisions of the consciousness, but only if the power of the consciousness surpasses that of the manas and possesses persuasive force, and only if the manas is willing to heed the suggestions and guidance of the consciousness. If the power of the manas is greater and it is unwilling to follow the advice of the consciousness, then the manas entirely dominates and makes the decisions. For example, when killing, if one feels pity for sentient beings while committing the act, it shows that the pity arising from the consciousness still cannot overcome the habitual tendency to kill rooted in the manas; thus, the act of killing is still carried out according to the manas.

When the consciousness cannot overcome the manas temporarily, once the consciousness becomes stronger, understands the Dharma and causality more deeply, its persuasive power increases. After successfully persuading the manas, one will no longer commit acts of killing. Before the consciousness successfully influences and transforms the manas, one will continue to comply with the manas in committing acts of killing while simultaneously feeling pity. When the wholesome mental factors within the consciousness itself are not yet sufficiently firm and strong, it cannot guide the manas nor overcome it. Consequently, one may perform wholesome actions while still harboring greed, hatred, jealousy, and self-interest, seeking only personal gain without considering the benefit of others. When the wholesome mental factors of the consciousness are not yet strong and firm enough, not fully transformed through conditioning, the Four Right Efforts are not cultivated. As a result, the unarisen wholesome states in the manas cannot arise, and the arisen unwholesome states cannot be abandoned; thus, one cannot abandon the unwholesome and cultivate the wholesome.