A Person's Presence, Temperament, Demeanor, and Cultivation Largely Reside in the Manas

The scope of cognition by the manas is broad, overseeing the overall situation and grasping the macro perspective, emphasizing strategic thinking. In contrast, the scope of cognition by the mano-vijñāna is limited, focusing on the partial, minute, and profound, emphasizing tactical execution. Those with wisdom in the manas are suited to be leaders and generals, while those with intelligence in the mano-vijñāna are suited to be advisors and department heads, responsible for managing specific affairs. When combined, they can operate at both higher and lower levels, encompassing both breadth and detail, integrating strategy with tactics, rendering them invincible.

Individuals with the bearing of a great general possess wisdom and experience in the manas. Those engaged in scientific research exhibit meticulous attention to detail in the mano-vijñāna. Therefore, a person's aura, temperament, demeanor, and cultivation primarily reside in the manas and generally refer to the manas. These qualities cannot be acquired through learning; they cannot be attained through hasty study. If the mano-vijñāna attempts to feign them, it cannot sustain the pretense for long. Innate qualities constitute a person's inherent characteristics; they are not acquired through immediate learning and cannot be counterfeited.

Regarding the development and overall trajectory of the Buddhist community, those who can accurately grasp it are invariably long-practicing Bodhisattvas. Due to their extensive practice, their manas has undergone much, witnessed widely, and accumulated rich experience, enabling them to understand far more about Buddhist history and practice than newly practicing Bodhisattvas. They can perceive through many phenomena within Buddhism. Thus, they clearly discern what is Dharma-compliant and what is not, they see the advantages and disadvantages within the Dharma with clarity, and they perceive the keen or dull faculties of sentient beings distinctly. These are all achievements of the manas, though they certainly do not occur without the discriminative thinking of the mano-vijñāna.

Newly practicing Bodhisattvas, due to limited experience, heavy afflictions, and lack of substantial experience, cannot clearly comprehend matters within Buddhism. They cannot clearly perceive the keen or dull faculties of sentient beings, nor can they grasp the trajectory and pros and cons of the Dharma. Consequently, they often view issues partially and superficially, lacking depth. As a result, they are more prone to errors and misjudgments regarding people and affairs.