Observing the Psychological Activities of Manas in the Hypnotic State

If an individual's consciousness is very weak, its alerting and guiding effect on the manas (the mental faculty) becomes extremely minimal. In such a state, if one attempts to hypnotize them, the manas becomes easily susceptible to the hypnotist's suggestions, leading the person to reveal all their secrets. Conversely, if the manas itself is strong, possessing vigilance and firm willpower, it will not succumb to the hypnotist's induction and will safeguard the secrets within. There was a hypnosis case where a hypnotist, seeking to obtain a person's account password, took advantage of the individual being in a semi-comatose state with severely diminished conscious resistance and discernment. The hypnotist proceeded to hypnotize this person while simultaneously attaching a brainwave monitoring device to their head. This device was intended to capture the person's brainwave information in real-time, deciphering their inner thoughts and secrets from the brainwaves and translating them into textual information.

However, this person possessed strong willpower and was prepared beforehand. When the hypnotist asked trivial questions, the person answered truthfully. But when crucial questions concerning the password were posed, the person initially gave nonsensical answers and later refused to answer altogether. Nevertheless, thoughts still arose in their mind, so the instrument was able to display the fluctuations in the person's brainwaves, with electrical signals flickering on the device, instantly translating the brainwave information into text. However, when it came to the core password question, not only did the person refuse to answer, but they also discarded their thoughts, shutting down their mental processes. Consequently, the brainwaves became blank and unreadable, and naturally, no text could be translated. Despite employing numerous methods, the hypnotist failed to extract the account password from this person.

What can be observed from this phenomenon? During the hypnosis process, consciousness is extremely weak, capable only of performing minor discernment functions. The five sensory consciousnesses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) are also very weak; together with consciousness, they perform minor discernment, conveying the meaning of the hypnotist's voice to the manas and transmitting bodily sensations like pain to the manas. Initially, consciousness could still perform weak thinking and analysis, but as the comatose state deepened, consciousness became increasingly unclear until it vanished. The sensory information transmitted by the six consciousnesses became progressively less distinct, and the auxiliary function of thinking and analysis ceased. At this point, the manas was almost entirely left alone to face the hypnotist's instructions.

When consciousness operates normally, the manas can heed the opinions and suggestions generated by conscious thought and analysis. Moreover, conscious thinking largely revolves around the manas, so the instructions the manas follows are essentially its own, and it complies with its own thoughts. Under hypnosis, the hypnotist's instructions replace the guidance and suggestions of consciousness. If the manas lacks firm willpower and is successfully hypnotized, it will obey the hypnotist's commands, revealing the secrets within the mind straightforwardly and without reservation. The relationship between the manas and the six consciousnesses is that of master and servant. The six consciousnesses are responsible for observing and discerning the six sensory objects (sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and mental objects), transmitting this sensory information, obeying the manas's instructions, and expressing the manas's thoughts and views through body, speech, and mind. When the six consciousnesses are very weak, the manas's thoughts and views cannot manifest, and many functions cannot be effectively exercised. Nevertheless, the manas can still perceive and discern the sensory realms and still possesses its own dominant thoughts.

After the six consciousnesses weaken or disappear, does the view of self (ātma-dṛṣṭi) still exist? Is this view of self the same as when the six consciousnesses are present? Does it become more apparent? In fact, the view of self belongs to the manas; consciousness merely adheres to the manas's view of self and expresses it. In this case, the person was hypnotized, and the six consciousnesses were weak or absent. Did the manas exhibit a strong view of self and self-attachment (ātma-grāha)? In truth, it is the manas that constantly upholds the sense of "I." Self-attachment stems from the view of self; without the view of self, there is no self-attachment. The strength of the manas's self-attachment precisely indicates the strength of its view of self.

How is language produced? How are brainwaves generated? Why does a person become unable to speak when physically weak? Why do brainwaves disappear when the body becomes extremely weak? Why does the manas, fearing the leakage of the password, extinguish thoughts, thereby causing the brainwaves to vanish? Instrument measurements reveal that brainwaves precede vocalized language. Vocalized language is a function of consciousness, while brainwaves are entirely a manifestation of the manas having ideas and thoughts. Even without the six consciousnesses, the manas still has mental activity and brainwaves. As soon as the manas has a thought or idea, brainwave fluctuations occur. Brainwaves are unrelated to consciousness; the manas directly extinguishes its own thoughts. Without thoughts, there are no brainwaves.

If the body is not weak and has energy, a flow of qi (vital energy) is generated in the dantian area. When this qi ascends to the root of the tongue, speech is produced. This indicates that the activities of consciousness are regulated and directed by the manas, revolving around it. When the manas does not wish to speak or express thoughts, there is no language. When the manas does not wish to engage the mind, brainwave fluctuations become calm. What does this indicate? It indicates that the manas is the master, the king, the sovereign, while the six consciousnesses are the servants, the ministers. To capture the rebels, first capture the leader. Spiritual practice entails exerting effort on the manas; transforming the manas is the true path.

Does the manas possess the mental factor of thought (vitarka)? In the hypnotic state, brainwaves appear precisely because the manas has mental activity; without mental activity, there are no brainwaves. The desire to achieve a certain goal is the mental factor of desire (chanda). Does the manas possess the mental factor of desire? In the hypnotic state, the manas's desire to protect the secrets within the mind, extinguishing thoughts to protect them, is the mental factor of desire. Clearly comprehending and decisively understanding sensory objects is the mental factor of determination (adhimokṣa). Does the manas possess the mental factor of determination? In the hypnotic state, the manas clearly comprehending the meaning of the hypnotist's words and understanding the hypnotist's purpose is the mental factor of determination. The manas's unwavering protection of the secrets within is the mental factor of concentration (samādhi). To protect the secret, shutting down mental thoughts is the manas's mental factor of wisdom (prajñā). All afflictive mental factors (kleśa) are also primarily centered on the manas; the afflictions of consciousness merely revolve around the manas and are inconsequential, easily arising and easily ceasing. As long as the manas is free from afflictions, consciousness naturally will not have afflictions. How can the servants do what the king forbids?

Consider also the wartime period. Communist Party members captured by the enemy endured severe torture and interrogation, suffering inhuman physical and mental torment. Those with strong willpower did not betray or sell out the organization even unto death. Was it consciousness that was resilient, or the manas? Does consciousness have faith, or does the manas? Does hatred belong to consciousness or the manas? All dharmas reside in the manas. The manas may intensely hate someone, yet outwardly use the six consciousnesses to disguise itself, appearing to like that person. However, a wise person can immediately discern that the underlying essence is hatred, not liking. In the hypnotic state, the dominant position of the manas and its mental factors are clearly observable; the functional role of the manas is extremely crucial.