The Various Thoughts and Emotions of Manas Are Manifested Through the Six Consciousnesses

Currently, many people in society suffer from a depressive psychological state, with even middle school students experiencing depression. This issue is largely a matter of karmic retribution, while a smaller portion stems from individual karmic conditions. The main symptoms of depression include an inwardly closed-off state, lack of communication with others, difficulty expressing inner thoughts, and a persistently gloomy, uncheerful mood. Regarding such a psychological state, the conscious mind (vijnana) is often inexplicably unaware, not understanding why the mood is so heavy. This is caused by the obstructed mental state of the manas (the thinking mind).

Because the manas has thoughts and emotions it cannot vent, with no one understanding its ideas and views, and not even knowing how to seek someone to confide in or ask for help, consequently no one can provide guidance. Simultaneously, being unable to communicate with one's own conscious mind, which does not comprehend the situation, the problem remains unresolved, leading the manas to develop depression. For many people, the fundamental cause is a karmic issue, meaning it is the karmic retribution resulting from events experienced by the manas in past lives and the karmic actions committed.

As for the aspect concerning individual karmic conditions, when there are unfulfilled wishes in the heart, depression arises; when the environment fails to satisfy one's psychological needs, depression occurs. A common characteristic of depressed individuals is overthinking and underacting, leading to unrealized ideas and unmet psychological needs. When too many thoughts accumulate, they form a burden, and depression emerges. Depression is also called being frustrated by unfulfilled ambitions; having various desires yet being unable to satisfy them leads to low mood, depression, and gloominess.

Some people experience feelings of being utterly lost or not wanting to live; this too is dominated by the emotions of the manas, with the conscious mind manifesting precisely the mental activities of the manas. "Six deities having no master" (being utterly lost) means the six consciousnesses do not know what to do or how to act, because the manas cannot make up its mind, hesitating and refusing to make decisions or issue commands, causing the six consciousnesses to become agitated and unsettled. The expression and reaction of the six consciousnesses to the thoughts and emotions of the manas manifest as the confusion of the six consciousnesses, lacking a core sense of direction or feeling of belonging, hence leading to feelings of meaninglessness and unwillingness to live.

When emotions are agitated, the heart beats faster; this too is caused by the emotions of the manas. For example, the saying "Rage arises from the heart, and malice emerges from the gall" describes the manifestation of the manas' anger leading to malice. The heart, gall, and all internal organs are mobilized by the manas through the brain's nervous system; the entire physical body is directed by the manas via the brain's nervous system. The manas can control the entire body and guide all its activities. When the conscious mind (manovijnana) is angry but the manas is not, it is false anger. No matter how angry one pretends to be, there is no internal reaction, no behavioral response, or if there is behavior, it is merely a pretense. When there is genuine anger and rage, behavioral actions occur and physical/mental states change; this is the emotion of the manas.