The Relationship Between Manas and the Six Consciousnesses in Physical, Verbal, and Mental Activities

Question: Since the manas (mind faculty) governs the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of a person, what specific roles do the six consciousnesses play in bodily and verbal actions?

Answer: The sixth consciousness (mano-vijñāna) is the specific executor and creator of bodily and verbal actions. From observing bodily and verbal actions, one should understand how the sixth consciousness operates and what functions it performs. For instance, walking, standing, sitting, lying down, speaking, laughing, eating, drinking, and so forth are all operated by the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness (kāya-vijñāna). However, the controller is the manas. Superficially, it may appear as if the sixth consciousness is directing, but it merely provides suggestions to the manas. The actual decisions rest with the manas. During the process, the sixth consciousness may generate other thoughts to advise the manas. If the manas deems them reasonable, it adopts them; if not, the decisions and commands remain unchanged, and the sixth consciousness must proceed accordingly.

Bodily actions are the combined functioning of the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness. Verbal actions are likewise the combined functioning of the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness. Seeing forms is the combined functioning of the sixth consciousness and the eye consciousness (cakṣur-vijñāna). Hearing sounds is the combined functioning of the sixth consciousness and the ear consciousness (śrotra-vijñāna). Smelling scents is the combined functioning of the sixth consciousness and the nose consciousness (ghrāṇa-vijñāna). Tasting flavors is the combined functioning of the sixth consciousness and the tongue consciousness (jihvā-vijñāna). Feeling touches is the combined functioning of the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness. In the functioning of all six sense faculties, the operation of the sixth consciousness is present. Without the sixth consciousness, the five aggregates (skandhas) cannot move. If the sixth consciousness is weak, the five aggregates also struggle to move effectively.

When sentient beings lack sufficient meditative stability (samādhi) and contemplative wisdom (prajñā), they can only perceive the operation of the six consciousnesses in bodily, verbal, and mental actions. They cannot perceive the manas' governing and decision-making role, much less the fundamental function of the eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna). This is because the operational characteristics of the manas and the eighth consciousness are extremely subtle. Ordinary people, due to insufficient roots of virtue (kuśala-mūla) and merit (puṇya), find it very difficult to observe them. Because they cannot observe them, some claim that all phenomena are merely the functions of the six consciousnesses, denying the existence of the manas and the eighth consciousness. This is the unwise view of the "Six Consciousnesses Theory."