How Manas Volition Leads to Its Own Cessation

When an Arhat with wisdom liberation approaches the end of life, the manas no longer clings to the three realms, ceases to engage in mental attention, no longer chooses to perceive the Dharma, has no desire to perceive the Dharma, and no intention to create. At the moment when the five universally active mental factors cease to operate, the manas is bound to cease. Thus, when the manas does not engage in attention, contact, sensation, perception, or thought, the Tathagatagarbha ceases to cooperate in producing dharmas. Since the manas no longer possesses desire or thought toward the three realms, it inevitably refrains from attention, contact, sensation, perception, and thought. Consequently, the mind-consciousness can no longer function, the operations of the five aggregates cease, and thus the manas perishes.

As long as the manas harbors mental thoughts and desires, maintaining an attachment to the dharmas of the three realms, the five universally active mental factors will continue to operate incessantly. The manas cannot cease, and the five aggregates and eighteen elements will perpetually arise. Sentient beings within the three realms will thus undergo endless cycles of birth and death without cessation.