Is the Recitation of Sutras Voiced by Consciousness or Manas?

Question: When I, a novice, recite sutras, I sometimes enter a state of concentration and stillness, feeling joyful and physically very comfortable. Even without looking at the book or thinking about the content, I recite without errors. Is this the conscious mind reciting or the manas (intellect) reciting?

Answer: This situation is like driving a light carriage on a familiar road—effortless and skilled. When reciting sutras becomes very proficient, the mind settles on the sutra, with few or no wandering thoughts, leading to entering samadhi (concentration). The body simultaneously becomes still, feeling serene, at ease, joyful, and comfortable. Because the mind is focused on the sutra, the manas becomes familiar with it to the extent that it enables the conscious mind to recite from memory. This is because the dharma-dhatu (mental objects) discerned by the conscious mind originate from the transmission by the manas. For dharmas (phenomena) familiar to the manas, the conscious mind does not need to exert effort to discern and recollect. The function of reciting and memorizing appears to be performed by the conscious mind, but in essence, it is because the manas is very familiar with the scripture. Without the conscious mind or eye-consciousness needing to look at the text for discernment and memorization, the recitation flows out. This is a state where both the manas and the conscious mind are jointly reciting and memorizing.

Attaining samadhi through sutra recitation also means the manas is settled, leading to physical and mental serenity and comfort. This results from the conscious mind restraining and guiding the manas effectively, with the two cooperating well. It is also due to virtuous roots from past lives—frequent recitation and familiarity with sutras in past lives make it easier to enter samadhi and memorize in this life.

Another person asks: This differs somewhat from my experience. I find that when restlessness (auddhatya) arises, it is precisely when I am very familiar with reciting the mantra. When a cool, comfortable sensation arises in the head during mantra recitation, the manas also easily clings to these states, and then the mind becomes scattered.

Answer: Your observation is also correct. Because the mantra is too familiar, the mind does not need to focus on reciting it, leading to a lack of concentration. The manas clings to other dharmas, causing the conscious mind to become distracted, and thus the mind scatters. Both situations described above exist and are not contradictory. The difference lies in whether, despite the manas being very familiar with the dharma, it still refrains from clinging to other dharmas. Non-clinging leads to samadhi; clinging leads to scattering. Therefore, when I first began learning Buddhism, I was unwilling to recite the Buddha's name because the name was too short to subdue wandering thoughts, so I recited sutras instead. Later, with many worldly affairs, reciting sutras became impractical, so I switched to reciting mantras. Reciting mantras is the most effective. Although I can memorize whichever sutra I recite, sutras are still somewhat long. When busy, interruptions are inevitable, so I switched to mantras.

 The state of concentration and sensations experienced during sutra recitation arise naturally due to focused concentration. However, over time, as the state becomes overly familiar, even a slight lapse in attention or the arising of scattered thoughts can cause the concentrated state to disappear. No matter how one practices, if samadhi does not arise and one does not enter concentration, it indicates the effect is still insufficient—the mind is scattered and not unified. Cultivation is about cultivating precepts (śīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā). Precepts prevent miscellaneous and chaotic thoughts; concentration fixes the mind on the dharma, giving birth to wisdom that changes irrational thoughts and views. Without samadhi, insight is very poor, and wisdom does not grow.

Some intelligent people have many thoughts and considerations, making it difficult to attain samadhi. Foolish people have fewer thoughts and instead easily attain samadhi. However, this kind of samadhi is generally a dull concentration (dull samadhi), which is useless—it does not give birth to wisdom. Instead, it easily leads to falling into the animal realm, causing greater stupidity. Therefore, I do not wish to see some people sitting idly all day with an empty mind, ultimately becoming dull and foolish. Those who are less intelligent should sit less foolishly; instead, they should recite more sutras, study the Dharma, and contemplate. Those with many thoughts should restrain the mind more. Concentration and wisdom should be adjusted and regulated at all times.