How to Tame the Habituated Manas to Alleviate Kleshas

Observation Practice of Jinghe: I have recently gained a small insight into the manas (mind root). It feels like the "actions" of the manas are layered. Before the arising of the five sense-accompanying consciousnesses, it is primarily characterized by doubt. Only after the five sense-accompanying consciousnesses arise does it manifest obvious characteristics like greed and aversion. In daily life, it is generally only after habits of greed, aversion, etc., have already arisen that one becomes aware and reflects back. During seated meditation, one strives to introspect and observe right at the initial arising of the five sense-accompanying consciousnesses. However, this process of reflective awareness and letting go usually requires some guidance from the mental consciousness (manovijñāna). It is not possible to let go immediately after becoming aware (this indicates that the manas has not yet fully realized the emptiness of the five aggregates). This is precisely what troubles me now.

Comment: The initial doubt of the manas stems from uncertainty about the Dharma. Therefore, it cannot yet make a decision. Once the mind becomes certain and free from doubt, a decision is made. After the decision, the six consciousnesses arise and act according to the manas's inclination. During this process of action, the mental consciousness observes the Dharma. In this observation, it discovers its own greed, aversion, and delusion – this "self" refers to the manas. The greed, aversion, and delusion of the manas are reflected through the actions of the six consciousnesses. At this point, the isolated mental consciousness (manovijñāna not accompanying the senses) possesses observational power or introspective power. Generally, when the awareness of the isolated mental consciousness is not very strong, it only observes the habits of greed, aversion, and delusion after the actions of body, speech, and mind are already completed – this is already a step too late. If the awareness of the isolated mental consciousness is strong, it discovers the presence of greed, aversion, and delusion at the very moment it is about to decide to act; it recognizes that the intended action is karmically driven by greed, aversion, or delusion, and it decides not to act. This decision is fed back to the manas, which then makes its own choice. The final outcome depends on the manas's level of awakening.

If the manas lacks strong awakening and is heavy with habits, it will still insist on its decision, unwilling to change the actions of body, speech, and mind, allowing the afflictions to continue manifesting. But even so, the introspection of the isolated mental consciousness is still effective. It plants a seed within the manas, permeating it, letting the manas know that this behavior is greed, aversion, and delusion; it is unwholesome and should not be done. The next time the manas wishes to manifest afflictions, there will be hesitation and obstruction in the mind, and the intensity of the affliction will lessen. Through repeated prevention and persuasion by the mental consciousness, the inclination of the manas will change, and it will cease to perpetuate the creation of afflictions. Therefore, spiritual practice is not a matter of a single day or night. Every instance of introspection by the mental consciousness permeates the manas, planting seeds for the elimination of afflictions. These seeds will eventually take root, sprout, bear flowers, and yield fruit. The afflictions accumulated by the manas over countless lifetimes are piled up like a mountain; they cannot be changed in a short time. Patient permeation and cultivation are necessary. One should constantly maintain awareness.