Can Consciousness and Manas Be Separated?

The mind faculty is the basis for the purity or defilement of the six consciousnesses. If the mind faculty is defiled, the six consciousnesses will inevitably be defiled; if the mind faculty is pure, the six consciousnesses will inevitably be pure. Then, if the mind faculty has not eradicated the view of self, can consciousness eradicate the view of self? If the mind faculty has not severed the bonds of afflictions, nor eradicated the three fetters, can consciousness eliminate the three fetters? Since the mind faculty has not eradicated the three fetters, at the end of life, one is pulled by karmic obstructions to receive retribution in hell. Where does consciousness go at this time?

If the mind faculty remains in the state of an ordinary person's ignorance, can consciousness alone become a virtuous person of the first fruition? Should such a person be considered an ordinary being or a realized virtuous person? Or are they split into two separate entities? If someone harms oneself, and the mind faculty is stubbornly attached to the self, insisting on seeking revenge, how should consciousness respond to this matter? When consciousness is clear and comprehends correct principles, having already received proper influence, it can reason with the mind faculty, exerting counter-influence to suppress and subdue the mind faculty, preventing it from seeking revenge and creating unwholesome karma. However, at the time of approaching death and during the intermediate state, consciousness lacks the strength to guide or persuade the mind faculty.

Can consciousness guide and admonish the mind faculty in dreams? If one cannot control oneself even in dreams, one will be even less able to control oneself at the time of death. What is meant by "control"? It is consciousness, understanding principles, taming the mind faculty, correcting it, and guiding its direction. Clearly, during the approach to death and in the intermediate state, consciousness is incapable of controlling the mind faculty. At this point, the mind faculty will follow the pull of karmic forces or the power of vows, not the guidance of consciousness. Therefore, is it not dangerous and unreliable to remain only at the stage of cultivating consciousness, refusing to progress further?