The Non-Arising of a Single Thought Achieved through Manas

Some say that recollection is entirely a functional activity of consciousness and has nothing to do with the manas. While it is true that consciousness can recollect, consciousness is a phenomenon arising from causes and conditions; it manifests only when the necessary causes and conditions are present, and cannot arise when they are absent. What causes and conditions prompt consciousness to arise and recollect? Why is consciousness able to recollect? It is, of course, because the manas recalls past events, causing a shadowy mental state to appear. Through the contact between sense faculties and objects, the manas intends to act in some way. Only then does the eighth consciousness comply with the mental activities of the manas, enabling consciousness to arise and engage in recollection. Otherwise, consciousness cannot arise. Therefore, whether consciousness can recollect depends on whether the manas is oriented toward past events and whether it seeks to understand certain matters. If the manas does not dwell on past events and has no mental activities, consciousness will not arise, let alone engage in recollection, contemplation, or manifest various emotions.

If the manas has no mental activities and does not intend to create any phenomena, consciousness can remain in a thoughtless state. If the manas has mental activities and intends to create phenomena, consciousness will inevitably comply with the manas's intentions and engage in creation; it cannot remain in a thoughtless state. Thus, the thoughtless concentration of consciousness is entirely determined and controlled by the manas. If the manas grasps at other phenomena, consciousness cannot settle into concentration.

When consciousness is in a thoughtless state, the manas can likewise remain thoughtless, or if thoughts arise, they need not affect consciousness. If there is no intention to create anything, consciousness can still remain in a thoughtless state.