Is Human Muscle Activity Governed by Consciousness or Manas?

Question: The manas directly regulates the human nervous system, and the nervous system in turn directly controls muscle contraction. Thus, it is evident that the direct operator regulating human muscular activity is the seventh consciousness, not the sixth consciousness. If that is the case, why is bodily action said to be the functional manifestation of the sixth consciousness?

Answer: Muscular activity belongs to the activity of the nervous system, which is a response following the issuance of commands by the central nervous system of the brain. The central nervous system of the brain is regulated by the manas. Once the decision of the manas is initiated, the cerebral cortex activates, and the central nervous system issues commands that are transmitted to the corresponding nervous systems of the body, resulting in the phenomenon of muscle contraction. Although bodily, verbal, and mental actions are governed and directed by the manas, their specific operation must be jointly accomplished by the sixth consciousness and the five sensory consciousnesses. If the sixth consciousness cannot arise normally, the body cannot function.

Although the contraction and relaxation of the nervous system are regulated by the manas and are subconscious behaviors, they are very subtle and faint. This includes respiration, which involves partial conscious participation, but a significant portion occurs without conscious involvement. Bodily movement cannot be accomplished without the sixth consciousness; however, subtle nervous system activities can occur without it, such as bodily twitches during sleep, eyelid fluttering, slight bodily movements, or gentle breathing. Nevertheless, the sixth consciousness can actively regulate respiration, such as through deep breathing.

Muscular and neural activities closely connected to the physical body can be regulated solely by the manas without the cooperation of the sixth consciousness, though the sixth consciousness may participate. When it does, it can only guide the manas and cannot command the entire body, because the manas alone can control the central nervous system, issuing commands there that are transmitted throughout the body. Neural activities involving the sixth consciousness are called conscious behaviors, while those without it are called unconscious behaviors. For example, respiratory activities, muscle contraction and relaxation, incontinence, gastrointestinal peristalsis, the circulation of qi and blood, as well as certain specific emotional activities—such as heart pounding with fear, hair standing on end in rage, or being scared out of one's wits—can all occur without the participation of the sixth consciousness; the manas alone can accomplish them. However, the motor activities of the body must involve the joint operation and regulation of the body consciousness (kāyavijñāna), the sixth consciousness, and the manas.