The Relationship Between Non-Conceptual Awareness and Manas

Ling refers to being sensitive and dynamic, while li nian (departing from thoughts) means temporarily departing from mental thoughts and ideas. Such awareness can be conscious, or it can pertain to the manas (mind root). Departing from thoughts is relatively easier for consciousness, but it is more difficult for the manas, though not impossible. Why can consciousness depart from thoughts? Firstly, the manas has no desires or thoughts; it does not grasp at dust-like objects (external phenomena), nor does it have coarse mental thoughts. Secondly, consciousness itself lacks the desire to differentiate objects of perception and has nothing weighing on its mind. Only under these conditions is consciousness not mobilized to think, ponder, recall, or fabricate. As for those extremely subtle mental thoughts of the manas, they do not require consciousness to participate in manifesting physical, verbal, or mental actions, and consciousness is also incapable of detecting or participating in them.

At this point, the manas is in a slightly tranquil state, which is a state of meditative concentration (dhyāna), a state free from desires and seeking. Therefore, when consciousness is in a state of departing from thoughts, it necessarily occurs when the manas is tranquil and in meditative concentration, regardless of the depth or duration of that meditative concentration. In truth, subtle thoughts still exist at this stage; how could there be awareness without any thought? It's simply that when one is extremely familiar with the object of perception, one can know without exerting effort to differentiate. At this point, mental activity is very slight, and this is called "thought-free lucid awareness" (li nian ling zhi). The term "thought-free lucid awareness" does not originate from the Buddhist sutras; the sutras do not provide a specific description of this. It is a concept proposed by later generations based on their own understanding and is not very precise. Observing and discerning this requires profound cultivation in the Vijñānavāda (Consciousness-Only) tradition and keen powers of observation.