What does it mean to be so shocked that one is speechless? What does it mean to be so frightened that one is dumbstruck? What does it mean to be so angry that one is rendered silent?
When the manas (mind root) experiences a strong agitation—when it is overly excited and reacts intensely—it becomes immersed in the state, leaving no time or inclination to direct the mind consciousness to speak or express itself. It feels language is inadequate, or it does not know what to say, so the mind consciousness temporarily rests while the manas pays it no heed. When the manas is startled, it neglects the five sense faculties and the six consciousnesses: the eye cannot attend to seeing, the ear cannot attend to hearing, the nose cannot attend to smelling, the tongue cannot attend to tasting, the body cannot attend to touching, the mind cannot attend to thinking, and the mouth cannot attend to speaking. One appears dazed and stupefied, digesting the shock and unable to react.
When the mind consciousness is startled but the manas remains unperturbed, the outward behavior remains largely normal. The manas continues to regulate the five sense faculties and six consciousnesses, carrying out their usual functions without appearing dazed or stupefied.
When the manas is angry, the mind becomes immersed in the event, focused solely on the anger, with no energy or inclination to regulate the mind consciousness for expression. When the mind consciousness is angry but the manas remains unaffected, the manas continues to regulate the five sense faculties and six consciousnesses, carrying out their functions as usual without significant disruption.
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