The Function of Mano-indriya Is Intrinsically Complete

Question: Can the manas provide the seeds of delusion to the consciousness? And does the function and role of manas diminish when separated from consciousness?

Answer: The delusions of consciousness are indeed triggered by the manas; it is the manas that provides the content and direction of delusion, regulates it, and embodies the desires and intentions of the manas. However, these seeds, and indeed all seeds, are still provided by the tathāgatagarbha. Only the tathāgatagarbha can store the seeds of consciousness (vijñāna) and the seeds of dharmas used for delusion. The manas cannot store any seeds because it is not a substantial entity, is subject to arising and ceasing, change and alteration, and lacks autonomy and self-mastery. If the manas could provide seeds, there would be two storehouse consciousnesses, which would create chaos. In reality, when the manas forms an intention and makes a decision to delude, the tathāgatagarbha, knowing this, cooperates by projecting the seeds necessary for the delusion, including the seeds of consciousness, thereby enabling consciousness to engage in delusion. The manas only needs to initiate the delusional grasping and clinging; this alone facilitates the arising of delusion. It is the driving force and source of delusion. The ultimate source, however, is the tathāgatagarbha; all dharmas ultimately flow forth from the tathāgatagarbha.

Does the function and role of manas diminish when separated from consciousness? We should understand that the manas possesses an immense number of functions and roles. Regarding its functions within the six dusts (sense objects), if separated from the five aggregates and the six consciousnesses, even if the manas has countless intentions and ingenious plans, it would be difficult for them to manifest or function effectively. This is because there would be no executor, no implementer, no subordinate, and no "hands and feet" to carry out its will. From this perspective, the manas is an amnesic consciousness (a consciousness of neutral karmic quality). Its wholesome and unwholesome mental actions cannot be realized, wholesome and unwholesome deeds cannot be created, wholesome and unwholesome seeds cannot be stored, and wholesome and unwholesome karmic results cannot come to fruition. Therefore, prior to beginningless kalpas, before the material world and the five aggregates existed, even though the manas possessed countless afflictions of ignorance, it had no actions or karmic activities stemming from that ignorance. It existed together with the tathāgatagarbha in a state of profound obscurity. Thus, when separated from consciousness, the functions and roles of the manas remain just as numerous; they simply cannot manifest or operate.