On Blurting Out (I)

"Speaking without thinking"—which consciousness's function does this reveal? Is it the sixth consciousness or the seventh consciousness that takes the lead? It is the functional role of the seventh consciousness, the manas. When He contacts the sense-objects, He immediately knows the object-situation, makes a decision, and reacts, not allowing the mind consciousness to deliberate further, without the mind consciousness needing to consider again—He makes the decision autocratically and arbitrarily, and the six consciousnesses instantly obey. Afterwards one may regret it; this is because after the mind consciousness has analyzed and deliberated, it feels that what was just done was wrong, too rash, and so it regrets.