On Speaking Out (Part II)

Observing what is blurted out allows one to perceive the functioning of the mental faculty (manas), specifically the mental factors associated with it. What mental factors does the mental faculty possess, and what psychological functions lead to such impulsive utterances?

If someone answers immediately upon being asked a question, without needing to think, it indicates that they are very familiar and well-acquainted with the subject, having frequently encountered it before, so there's no need for immediate consideration or deliberation. This "self" is the mental faculty (manas). Individuals who react quickly possess experiential wisdom within their mental faculty regarding the matter, requiring no assistance from the conscious mind (mano-vijnana) for analysis. Conversely, if the mental faculty is unfamiliar with the situation or has no prior experience, it requires the conscious mind to assist with deliberation and analysis. The mental faculty then makes its decision based on this input. This process is slower, preventing an immediate response or resolution, as it involves the intermediate step of conscious deliberation before reaching a conclusion. This demonstrates that the mental faculty itself lacks inherent wisdom, being previously unaware and uncomprehending.

Therefore, the Chan (Zen) patriarchs said: "What is obtained through deliberation and speculation is the work of ghosts." Authentic wisdom is the wisdom inherent in the mental faculty; it requires neither immediate learning nor ready-made application. Counterfeit wisdom, however, is acquired through the conscious mind's immediate analysis and deliberation, relying on the conscious mind to gather information, and thus cannot truly be called wisdom.