Purification of Manas Leads to the Cessation of Desire and Craving

Inner anxieties, restlessness, and other emotional states pertain to the manas (mind root). Their external manifestations are the states of consciousness (mano-vijnana) and the five consciousnesses. Most internal conflicts manifest as conflicts between the manas and consciousness. Conflicts arise when these two differ in cognition, comprehension, and ideological perspectives.

What the manas possesses, we possess; what the manas lacks, we lack. Consciousness is not the master consciousness. What it possesses or lacks is of no consequence, as long as it does not affect the manas. If the manas lacks the mental factor of desire (chanda), it intends to do nothing, becoming free from desire and seeking, and the mind becomes pure. Whatever desires consciousness may have cannot influence the manas. If the manas does not take the initiative, no action will be taken. However, the manas inherently possesses greed and desire, known as raga (craving). Eradicating this raga is the achievement of the third fruit (anagami), who possesses the first dhyana (meditative absorption), and in the next life will be reborn in the Form Realm (rupa-dhatu).