The Characteristics and Benefits of Manas-Based Contemplation

The contemplation of difficult problems is divided into varying levels of depth. The most superficial level involves conscious thinking alone, where the manas (root consciousness) does not participate because it lacks familiarity with the problem and is without meditative concentration. During the process of conscious thought, elements such as language, written words, and sounds are intermingled. The mental appearance of thinking is present, and the entire process is easily observable—this is the introspective function of consciousness observing its own operations. Language here includes self-talk and bodily gestures; written words encompass those physically written down as well as mental imaginings and descriptions; sounds include audible utterances and inaudible inner voices. During this thinking process, thought can be scattered; the mind need not be focused or enter meditative concentration. The results of such thinking are not acknowledged by the manas, as it did not participate. Consequently, the conclusions lack firm conviction, are easily overturned, and do not lead to corresponding practical actions.

At a slightly deeper level of contemplation, the manas participates. With a degree of shallow concentration (samadhi), both manas and consciousness engage in joint contemplation—one overt and the other covert—complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses. This process does not exclude the involvement of language, written words, or sounds. Consciousness is responsible for providing data, examples, and preliminary analysis and reasoning, while the manas discards a portion of its cognitive objects (ālambana) to engage in focused or semi-focused contemplation. Because the manas is occupied with contemplation, it lacks the capacity to attend to all dharmas (phenomena), necessitating the abandonment of some. Thus, shallow samadhi arises. The selection of which dharmas to engage with and which to abandon is determined by the manas. If the manas does not participate in contemplation, it will not choose to abandon certain cognitive objects, and shallow samadhi will not manifest. The more dharmas the manas abandons, the deeper the samadhi becomes, the more profound its participation in contemplation, and the easier it is to reach a conclusion.

The deepest level of contemplation is the exclusive deliberation (vicāra) of the manas alone. At this stage, samadhi is already profound. The supportive and communicative functions of consciousness have been completed, and the manas has already comprehended and become familiar with the problem, having abandoned the vast majority of cognitive objects. With single-minded focus, it contemplates and investigates alone within samadhi, even pondering during dreams without rest. Once a conclusion is reached, consciousness understands it immediately upon awakening, without disturbing sleep. Once samadhi arises in the mind—even briefly—it inevitably activates the manas. Conversely, once the process of manas deliberation begins, it is typically so focused that other cognitive objects cannot be attended to, inevitably resulting in samadhi.

This demonstrates that the manas is the sovereign consciousness, responsible for arranging and deciding matters. When it engages in deliberation, it cannot attend to other affairs, and samadhi necessarily follows. In the process of spiritual cultivation, the presence or absence of samadhi depends on the manas; it is determined by the manas. Therefore, to swiftly cultivate concentration, one must frequently employ the manas. To engage the manas in deliberation, one must diligently cultivate samadhi. Those who form the habit of contemplating with the manas will, upon encountering any difficult problem in the future, immediately enter the mode of manas contemplation without guidance from consciousness. Their attention becomes highly concentrated, their mind focused, devoid of language, written words, or sounds, and undisturbed in its concentration. Throughout history, all profound thinkers and individuals of great wisdom have been those accustomed to contemplating problems with the manas.

The benefit of contemplating problems with the manas is that it resolves issues directly and thoroughly, reaching the core without doubt, hesitation, or regret, bringing inner joy. It is more penetrating, thorough, profound, and imbued with wisdom than conscious thought. The conclusions are more readily accepted and felt more solidly by the mind, eternally aligned with the result, without the need for laborious memorization or recitation afterward. In contrast, conclusions reached through conscious thought are easily forgotten and difficult to recall later.