Does Manas Only Perceive Changing Dharma-Āyatana?

The scope of the manas' discernment is extremely broad; it can discern all dharmas, regardless of whether they are changing or unchanging. Some dharmas remain unchanged for long periods, yet the manas can still discern them; even minute, unchanging dharmas can be discerned. If there are dharmas that the manas cannot discern, the six consciousnesses cannot arise to discern them in subtle detail.

The manas discerns not only dharmas within the subtle sense faculties but also dharmas beyond them. It can discern all objects of the six sense fields; otherwise, the six consciousnesses could not arise. After discerning a form object, if there is a desire to specifically discern what color it is or what thing it is, the eye-consciousness and mental consciousness will arise. After discerning a sound object, if there is a desire to know what sound it is, the ear-consciousness and mental consciousness must arise to discern it specifically. The same applies to the other objects of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mental phenomena.

It can also discern coarse objects of the five senses. For example, if there are multicolored flowers before one, and the manas is interested in the purple flowers, the eye-consciousness and mental consciousness will arise upon the purple flowers to focus and discern them. The more interested the manas is, the longer the discernment lasts and the more focused it becomes. If the eye-consciousness and mental consciousness can focus on admiring violets for one or two hours, it indicates that the manas is extremely interested in the violets, continuously contacting them and continuously discerning them. Otherwise, the eye-consciousness and mental consciousness would vanish and cease to appreciate the violets. The same applies to the other sense objects.

Why must it be said that the manas only discerns changing, fluctuating dharma objects? It can discern unchanging dharma objects and all six sense objects; otherwise, it would lose its illuminating function, and the six consciousnesses could not arise.