The Five Aggregates as Utilized and Dominated by Manas

A patient with a brain injury, due to a brainstem hemorrhage, fell into a deep coma without consciousness, completely immobile and devoid of awareness. After treatment to stop the bleeding, the nerves began to twitch, yet the person remained unconscious, still comatose. Later, the body developed tactile sensation; when fed liquid food, the tongue could swallow, yet consciousness did not return. There was faint awareness but no capacity for thought or analysis. In the early and late stages of coma, when consciousness was absent, what role did the manas (mental faculty) play in sustaining the faint functional operations of the physical body?

Many say that the manas is like an idiot, amounting to nothing. Yet in reality, it is precisely this "idiot" that uses its unique functions to sustain the existence of the living being. When consciousness is absent, the living entity composed of the physical body, manas, and the eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna) remains the sentient "self." Therefore, does this "self" primarily refer to the manas or to consciousness? Which is more crucial? No one can say: "If the six consciousnesses vanish and only the manas remains, then there is no 'me'; the manas is not me." So, after the six consciousnesses cease, can what remains be disregarded? Should it not be counted as a person?

During coma, consciousness does not think, "I should move my eyeballs, twitch the corner of my mouth, or make my nerves twitch." Even if consciousness exists at this time, it is extremely faint, lacking any thinking function and unable to discern objects. It is the powerful function of the manas that seeks to make the physical body perceive, attempting to initiate movement, swallowing saliva and liquid food. Therefore, it is not difficult to discern what mental factors (caittas) the manas possesses. Do not continue to claim that the manas is nothing, without any function, without any mental activity, without any thoughts or ideas. If the manas had no thoughts or ideas, could a comatose person wake up? Could they struggle to make the physical body move?

For a person to possess tenacious vitality, adapt to all living environments, and enjoy the world of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha), one must not only thank the Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature) but also express gratitude to the manas for its unyielding persistence or perseverance. All this is primarily experienced by consciousness, so it should be consciousness that expresses gratitude to the Tathāgatagarbha and the manas, enabling itself to possess sensory awareness and enjoy the world of the five aggregates.

Conversely, the manas must also thank consciousness. With consciousness as its assistant to handle affairs and discern the objects of the six senses, the manas thereby possesses all phenomena of the world. Therefore, during coma, the manas becomes anxious, striving by every possible means to rouse consciousness so that the five aggregates may function fully. This proves that all phenomena serve the manas, which regards all phenomena as "I" and "mine." Some also claim that the manas is incapable without consciousness, but what does the manas do when consciousness is absent? Who can observe this?