Why Does Manas, Which Continuously Discerns and Deliberates, Require Sleep?

Sleep is for restoring the energy of the material body and alleviating its fatigue, enabling the six consciousnesses to function better and more effectively. Manas regards the material body as its own, considers the six consciousnesses as its own, views all five aggregates and eighteen dhatus as its own, and relies on the eighth consciousness to instantly perceive the condition of the material body. The activities of the six consciousnesses consume energy; to reduce this consumption, manas decides to cease the activities of the six consciousnesses, actively shutting down their discernment of the six dusts and no longer wishing to perceive them, relying solely on its own awareness. As energy continuously accumulates and vitality is restored to a certain level, manas decides to awaken, re-engage with the dust realms, and resume the activities of the five aggregates.

If the material body becomes fatigued, sleep is necessary to restore energy. Manas then decides to sleep, preventing the six consciousnesses from further activity. Manas itself wishes to shut off the six dusts and cease perceiving them, causing the five sense consciousnesses and the mental consciousness to gradually fade away. Thus, it is not manas that requires sleep, but the material body that needs rest to replenish energy and restore vitality. This precisely reflects the outcome of manas's constant and meticulous mental processing. However, sleep does not affect manas's constant mental processing; manas can continue its processing during sleep and may even manifest dreams, engaging in mental processing within those dreams.