Who Governs the Physical, Verbal, and Mental Activities of the Six Consciousnesses?

The phenomena created by the six consciousnesses are ultimately governed by the seventh consciousness, the manas-consciousness, which represents the mental formations of the manas. The superficial actions, behaviors, and karmic activities of body, speech, and mind performed by the mental consciousness are all dominated by the manas-consciousness. While the activities of body, speech, and mind may follow the decisions of the mental consciousness, this requires the mental consciousness to possess greater power than the manas-consciousness, along with persuasive force, so that the manas-consciousness is willing to heed its suggestions and guidance. If the power of the manas-consciousness is stronger and it refuses to follow the mental consciousness's advice, then it completely dominates and makes the decisions. For example, when killing, if one feels pity for sentient beings while committing the act, it indicates that the mental consciousness's compassion still cannot overcome the manas-consciousness's habitual tendency to kill. Consequently, the killing karma is still committed according to the manas-consciousness's dominance.

When the mental consciousness temporarily cannot overcome the manas-consciousness, it must grow stronger, gain deeper understanding of the Dharma and karma, and increase its persuasive power. Only after successfully persuading the manas-consciousness will one cease to create killing karma. Before the mental consciousness successfully influences the manas-consciousness, one may feel pity while still submitting to the manas-consciousness and committing acts of killing. When the wholesome mental factors within the mental consciousness are not yet solid and strong enough, it cannot guide or overcome the manas-consciousness. As a result, one may perform wholesome deeds while simultaneously harboring greed, hatred, jealousy, self-interest, and a lack of concern for others. When the wholesome mental factors within the mental consciousness are not sufficiently powerful and stable, and have not been fully influenced, the Four Right Efforts remain unattained. Consequently, unarisen wholesome qualities in the manas-consciousness cannot arise, arisen unwholesome qualities cannot be abandoned, and one remains unable to cease unwholesome actions and cultivate wholesome ones.