Consciousness and Manas: Simultaneous Discernment and Mentation

In the process of discerning all dharmas, whether thoughts arise or not, whether thoughts are apparent or not, whether in the state of deliberation (vitarka) or scrutiny (vicāra), there is discernment by consciousness (vijñāna) as well as discernment by the mental faculty (manas). Whenever dharmas are discerned, these two consciousnesses certainly coexist simultaneously. The distinction lies in which discerns clearly or unclearly, which discerns distinctly or indistinctly, and which serves as the primary agent of discernment. The moment a thought arises, these two consciousnesses inevitably appear together. This is because the mental faculty serves as the co-arising dependence (sahabhū-hetu) of consciousness; where there is consciousness, the mental faculty is necessarily present. The manifestation of consciousness results from the mental faculty's process of deliberation. Therefore, when consciousness moves, the mental faculty has necessarily already moved. Without the discernment and mental activity of the mental faculty, consciousness would not arise.

The mental faculty is an uninterrupted consciousness, existing and operating continuously, perpetually clinging and grasping. It ceaselessly engages in mental activity and deliberation, without interruption. The difference lies only in whether its activity is apparent or not, whether its mentation is scattered or concentrated, whether it is characterized by attachment or non-attachment, and whether consciousness can perceive its existence and mentation.

When many people experience consciousness without active thoughts and cannot observe the mental faculty, they perceive themselves as being in a state of serenity, seemingly without thoughts. In reality, the mental faculty does have thoughts during this time; it engages in clinging and deliberation. It is merely that the consciousness lacks the wisdom to observe it. At any moment, the mental faculty may make a decision, causing consciousness to lose its stillness and initiate actions and fabrications. Every action of body, speech, and mind, whether major or minor, subtle or significant, results from the deliberation of the mental faculty. When the mental faculty intends to engage in fabrication, consciousness cannot remain serene and will inevitably follow the mental faculty's inclination to fabricate.