The Premonition of the Manas

Question: Every time before I go on a business trip, I inexplicably feel a sense of loss in my mind, with slight tightness in my chest. And sure enough, when I arrive at the destination, the conditions for eating, drinking, and sanitation are poor. So before a business trip, I now check my own mind first—if I have an inexplicable sense of loss, it basically means the place I'm going to has poor food and lodging. Can this clumsy method also be used to observe the manas?

Answer: As long as you understand the functions and nature of the manas, you can also come to know the manas to some extent—knowing its general habits and tendencies, its afflictions, and its pure nature. The manas is too particular about enjoyment and loves comfort, so it is unwilling to come into contact with relatively poor and harsh environments. Therefore, before a change of environment, it always directs attention (manaskāra) so that the mind consciousness becomes aware of it, with the purpose of having the mind consciousness find a way to solve the problem.

If the manas is unhappy, the body will show abnormal signs; if the manas is happy, the body will also show abnormal signs. This is because the body is controlled by the manas, which expresses the manas' thoughts and emotions.