The Manifestation and Concealment of Manas Depends Entirely on the Observational Wisdom of Consciousness

The deliberative nature of consciousness is overt and easily observable, while the deliberative nature of the mind-root (manas) is covert and not easily observable. Because consciousness possesses relatively strong self-reflective power, the isolated consciousness (manovijñāna) can observe some operational aspects of both the five-sense-consciousness (pañcavijñāna) and itself, but not entirely, due to consciousness not having undergone the transformation into wisdom (āśraya-parāvṛtti). The Buddha can observe all aspects entirely, while the wisdom of the path (mārga-jñāna) possessed by bodhisattvas on the grounds (bhūmi) can observe most of them.

However, isolated consciousness, obstructed by afflictions (kleśa) and lacking sufficient meditative concentration (dhyāna-bala), not having transformed consciousness into wisdom, cannot observe the operational aspects of the mind-root. Therefore, it is said that the deliberative nature of the mind-root is hidden. In truth, for Buddhas and bodhisattvas who have transformed consciousness into wisdom, it is still easy to observe the activities of the mind-root. Whether something is hidden or apparent depends entirely on the observing wisdom of consciousness, not on the mind-root itself.

The mind-root also possesses a self-witnessing portion (svasaṃvitti), having a subtle self-reflective capacity that can observe its own operational aspects. However, the mind-root cannot express this, so consciousness (what we refer to as "us") remains unaware. Since consciousness is unaware of the operational aspects of the mind-root, whether the mind-root's self-reflective power is strong or weak is also unknown to consciousness.

Regarding matters unknown to consciousness, many people's consciousness habitually denies their existence or claims they do not exist. For instance, just as consciousness cannot observe the Earth's revolution and rotation and might therefore claim the Earth is stationary—a statement which, while seemingly harmless, does not accord with reality—how much truth and fact can the consciousness of ordinary people actually observe? It cannot observe very much. Ignorance (avidyā) is too profound and thick, the obscurations too heavy. Yet, those with the most ignorance are precisely the ones least likely to admit their lack of knowledge and most likely to trust their own judgments. This is indeed regrettable.