The Thought-Free Innate Awareness Mind: What Is It?

The mind of awareness apart from thoughts not only refers to the state of consciousness discerning the six dusts without thoughts, but also indicates a mind devoid of language and overt analytical functions, yet capable of knowing the realms of the six dusts and the dharmas beyond them. It is more agile, more concealed, deeper, more contemplative, possesses greater contemplative power, and stronger problem-solving abilities—this is the manas.

The manas cannot analyze the realms of the six dusts like consciousness does, yet it possesses its own unique mode of contemplation, which is extremely potent. Sentient beings primarily rely on the contemplative nature of the manas to make decisions and exert control. If the wisdom of consciousness is insufficient to observe and understand the unique and concealed contemplative nature of the manas—its contemplative methods and pulse remaining unknown to others and even to one's own consciousness—many people misunderstand it, scratching their heads in confusion.

The manas contemplates alone quite frequently. For instance, if one falls asleep with an unresolved problem at night, upon opening their eyes the next morning, consciousness immediately knows the solution—the problem is resolved. Many problems that consciousness cannot figure out or solve are set aside as one moves on to other tasks. Then, at some unknown moment, a flash of inspiration strikes: "Ah, that's it!" The solution is pondered and understood. This is the contemplative function of the manas, which works silently and covertly, unbeknownst to consciousness.

Although consciousness temporarily gives up and ceases to analyze, the manas does not abandon the matter. It persistently remembers, dwells upon, contemplates, and ponders it. The mental factors of the manas continuously operate. It lacks the overt analytical function of consciousness and differs somewhat from consciousness's analytical capability, yet the precise nature of this difference remains beyond the comprehension of even bodhisattvas who have attained the patience with non-arising. This matter is extremely profound.

Whether the manas's contemplation is obvious or not is relative to the wisdom of consciousness. The manas simply operates as it does, without deliberately concealing anything; it depends on whether consciousness possesses the wisdom to observe and discover it. The mental activities and functioning of the eighth consciousness are also very apparent, as evident as the operations of the five consciousnesses and consciousness itself. It does not intentionally hide; it simply depends on whether consciousness possesses strong observational wisdom. If the discerning power of consciousness is weak, consciousness cannot even observe its own mental activities, let alone those of the manas and the eighth consciousness.

In truth, the dharmas contemplated by the manas are vast and numerous, covering a very broad scope. What consciousness knows is only a very small part. When consciousness lacks wisdom, it understands nothing of the manas's contemplative nature. Regardless of whether consciousness understands or not, the manas still possesses its own contemplative functions and its own mode of contemplation. For example, the manas resolves issues related to the remains from past lives—something consciousness could never comprehend—and contemplates solutions independently. Another example is when the manas enters others' dreams, preaches the Dharma to them, or seeks something from someone; these are all operations performed solely by the manas, involving its contemplative nature, unbeknownst to consciousness.

The dharmas contemplated by the manas within the six dusts may or may not be known to consciousness. This is not a matter of permission; it depends on whether consciousness possesses wisdom. Regarding many dharmas, even wise individuals cannot discern what the manas is contemplating. As for the results of the manas's contemplation, sometimes consciousness knows them, sometimes it does not. In fact, most of the time, consciousness remains unaware due to insufficient wisdom.

When the manas contemplates and reaches a conclusion—"This matter is very important!"—such crucial issues must be executed and resolved by the six consciousnesses. Therefore, it must find a way to make the six consciousnesses aware. If the matter is unimportant and the manas can resolve it alone, it will not specifically try to alert consciousness. When consciousness is relatively dull and lacks much awareness, the dharmas contemplated and conclusions reached by the manas remain unknown to consciousness. Even if consciousness is unaware, the manas still directs the six consciousnesses to carry out the task.

When not a single thought arises, consciousness ceases producing thoughts, but the manas does not—the thoughts of the manas generally never cease. When not a single thought arises in consciousness, if one suddenly thinks of a matter and immediately rises to go out and attend to it, this is the result of the manas turning thoughts while consciousness is not producing thoughts.