The Agility of Manas

Whenever we are surprised, startled, alarmed, or shocked—times when our conscious mind is overwhelmed and unable to deliberate—the manas (mental faculty) remains swift and active. Its deliberative nature is potent, ultimately enabling it to devise solutions without relying on the analytical observation of the conscious mind, thereby helping us avoid danger and escape peril. We often say that a person is very sharp-witted and quick to react. But one needs to observe: is it the conscious mind that is sharp and quick to react, or is it the manas, or are both sharp and quick? This depends on the specific circumstances. An immediate reaction, too swift for deliberation, demonstrates the sharpness of the manas. A reaction involving slight deliberation demonstrates the sharpness of the conscious mind. When the conscious mind is sharp, in most cases, the manas is also sharp. When one is in a daze, the conscious mind may be dazed, but the manas is absolutely never dazed. The manas never ceases to engage in deliberation; one can understand this by experiencing it firsthand through moments of daze.