All Dharmas Are First Contacted and Cognized by Manas

The manas (mind root) resides in the brain, regulating the entire nervous system to control the whole body. When the brain nerves activate, the entire body moves, and the six consciousnesses subsequently follow. The activation of the six consciousnesses always occurs after the activation of the manas. This proves that all dharmas are first contacted and discerned by the manas, after which the six consciousnesses arise. Therefore, there is no dharma known by the six consciousnesses that is unknown to the manas. The difference lies only in whether the content of knowing is true or false, clear or unclear, and the degree of its subtlety or coarseness. Regardless of where the mind consciousness may be, it is formless and without characteristics, having no specific location. The mention of "where" here refers to its sphere of function.