The power of the mind consciousness alone is insufficient to eliminate self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi)

Someone asked the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī: Clearly knowing that birth is non-birth, why is one still bound by birth? The Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī replied: Because the power is not yet sufficient.

Which consciousness is the "clearly knowing"? Which consciousness is the "power not yet sufficient"? The one that clearly knows is the mind consciousness. Although the mind consciousness knows some principles, it is of no use—one is still bound by birth and death, because the mind consciousness cannot be in charge and have the final say. The one whose power is not yet sufficient is the manas. When the thoughts and views of the mind consciousness have not yet reached the manas, and the manas does not accept them, there is no power to change the current situation. The key is whether the manas can cognize this truth, whether it can eliminate delusion and attachment. Only when the manas eliminates delusion and attachment can one escape the prison of birth and death.

From this we know that with some Buddhist principles, such as the principle of eliminating self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) and the principle of awakening to the true mind and seeing one's nature, if they are only superficially known by the mind consciousness, they cannot resolve the problem of birth and death. They must penetrate deep into the manas; only when the manas understands the principles can one transform oneself and resolve the problem of birth and death. Because in all matters the manas is the one in charge—the manas has the final say. The manas has power, whereas the mind consciousness does not have much power, because it cannot be the master of the household. If we want to change the problem of birth and death of the whole family of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha), we must persuade the head of the household; merely persuading one family member is not enough. The manas is the head of the household—all matters of the five-aggregate world are decided by the manas. When the power of the manas becomes sufficient, one first eliminates self-view, then eliminates self-grasping, and in future lives one will no longer be bound by birth and death.