How to Tame the Habitual Tendencies of the Manas to Alleviate Afflictions

Pure Harmony's Contemplative Practice: I have recently gained some small insight regarding the manas (the thinking mind). It feels like the "actions" of the manas are layered. Before the mano-vijñāna (mental consciousness) accompanied by the five senses arises, its primary characteristic is doubt. Only after the mano-vijñāna accompanied by the five senses arises does it manifest clear characteristics like greed and aversion. In daily life, one usually only becomes introspective after habits of greed, aversion, etc., have already arisen. During seated meditation, one strives to introspect and observe right at the initial arising of the mano-vijñāna accompanied by the five senses. However, this process of introspecting and letting go generally requires some guidance from the vijñāna (consciousness); it cannot be achieved immediately upon introspection (this indicates the manas has not yet fully accepted the emptiness of the five aggregates). This is precisely what troubles me now.

Commentary: The initial doubt of the manas is uncertainty regarding dharmas (phenomena), so it cannot yet make a decision. Once the mind becomes certain and free from doubt, a decision is made. After the decision, the six consciousnesses arise and operate according to the manas's intention. During this operation, the vijñāna (consciousness) observes the dharmas. Through observation, it discovers that it possesses greed, aversion, and ignorance – this "itself" refers to the manas. The greed, aversion, and ignorance of the manas are reflected through the operation of the six consciousnesses. At this time, the isolated mano-vijñāna (mental consciousness operating independently) possesses observational power or introspective power. Generally speaking, when the introspective power of the isolated mano-vijñāna is not very strong, it only observes the habits of greed, aversion, and ignorance after the actions of body, speech, and mind are completed – this is already a step too late. If the introspective power of the isolated mano-vijñāna is strong, it discovers greed, aversion, or ignorance arising at the moment of deciding to act, recognizes that the intended action is born of greed, aversion, or ignorance, and decides not to act. This decision is fed back to the manas, which then makes its own choice. The final outcome depends on the manas's level of awakening.

If the manas is not very awakened and its habits are strong, it will still insist on its decision, unwilling to change the actions of body, speech, and mind, allowing the afflictions to continue manifesting. However, even so, the introspection of the isolated mano-vijñāna is still effective. It plants a seed in the manas, influencing it, letting the manas know that this behavior is greed, aversion, ignorance, is unwholesome, and should not be done. Next time the manas intends to manifest afflictions, there will be hesitation and obstacles in the mind, and the intensity of the afflictions will lessen. After the vijñāna repeatedly prevents and persuades, the inclination of the manas will change, and it will cease to perpetuate the creation of afflictions. Therefore, spiritual practice is not a matter of a single day or night. Every instance of introspection by the vijñāna influences the manas, planting seeds for the elimination of afflictions. These seeds will inevitably take root, sprout, blossom, and bear fruit sooner or later. The afflictions accumulated by the manas over countless lifetimes are piled up like a mountain; they cannot be changed in a short time. Patient cultivation and influence are necessary; one should constantly maintain awareness.