The Relationship Between Manas and Dhyāna

A question lingered in the mind, unresolved for a long time. During a period of relative leisure, the manas (mind faculty) decided to contemplate it thoroughly. Thus, the consciousness and the manas began to ponder deeply. But why, when pondering deeply, do the hands naturally support the chin, the eyes gently close, and the body become still, ceasing to fidget? When deep pondering finally yields an answer and resolves the problem, why do the hands naturally clap, dance about, and the face become overjoyed?

When the manas recognizes that the present issue is important, it focuses intently on contemplation and ceases to grasp at other mental objects (dharma dust). The manas is the master consciousness of the first six consciousnesses. When the manas is quiet, the body becomes quiet. Those who cannot attain meditative concentration (dhyāna) should carefully examine their own manas: what is it filled with? They should quickly empty the manas. Without subduing the manas, one cannot hope to have meditative concentration, nor can one hope to truly practice diligently.

Many people consider themselves quite good, but that might only mean their consciousness is good; the manas may not be, and fundamentally, they may not truly be good. Truly seeing oneself clearly is rare. Some people dare not explore the depths of their own hearts, fearing they might uncover some undesirable thoughts or concepts, thereby... In many good people, the consciousness is better than the manas – what does this indicate? In many bad people, the manas is better than the consciousness – what does this indicate? It indicates that the power of environmental influence is immense; consciousness is easily influenced (perfumed) by good and evil. Does the phenomenon of the manas being better than the consciousness exist? In relatively harsh environments, if the consciousness is influenced by evil, it may become worse than the manas. Some bad people are fundamentally not evil; they are merely compelled by circumstances.