The Difference Between Mind Consciousness and the Karmic Activities of the Manas

If we want to distinguish the difference between karma created by the manas and karma created by the mind consciousness, we must look at whether this karma accords with the mental activities of the manas or with those of the mind consciousness. Generally speaking, the karmic actions created by the mind consciousness all accord with the manas, because it is the manas that impels the mind consciousness to create karma; the karma created by the mind consciousness is karma created by the manas. The mind consciousness can create karma only when the manas allows it to; if the manas does not allow the mind consciousness to create karma, it cannot create it. This is the general situation.

There is another situation: when the power of the mind consciousness is extremely strong and turns the manas around, it can force the manas to take charge and create karmic actions according to the mind consciousness's ideas, and the manas has no choice but to submit to the will of the mind consciousness and make the decision. At this time, the karma that the manas takes charge of creating accords with the mental activities of the mind consciousness. The mind consciousness has analyzed the reasoning of the matter in a well-organized and thorough way, with very sufficient reasons, and thus has turned the manas around.

At this point, the power of the manas is not as strong as that of the mind consciousness, so the manas makes its decision following the mind consciousness's thinking. On the surface it is the manas taking charge, but in reality it is the mind consciousness that is in charge; the bodily, verbal, and mental actions accord with the mental activities of the mind consciousness, and this karma is karma created primarily by the mind consciousness. If the manas is completely persuaded and controlled by the mind consciousness—if the mind consciousness says this is good and the manas fully agrees and endorses it—then the karma that the manas directs the six consciousnesses to create at this time belongs to karma created jointly by the manas and the mind consciousness.

If the power of the manas is stronger than the power of the mind consciousness, and the manas does not agree with any of the mind consciousness's viewpoints, opinions, or views, then the manas will certainly take charge and make the decision according to its own intentions, and the behavior manifested will accord with the manas's own habitual tendencies. The karmic actions it impels the six consciousnesses to create will accord with the manas's own mental activities; this situation belongs to karma created by the manas.

There are several levels here; it is not as simple as the surface behavior we imagine, and specific situations must be analyzed and treated specifically. To observe whether a karmic action accords with the mental activities of the mind consciousness or with those of the manas, one needs to begin the analysis from the following aspects: see whether the mental activities of the mind consciousness and the manas are consistent. When the mental activities are consistent, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are equally wholesome, or equally unwholesome; the karmic actions created at that time accord with the shared mental activities of both. If they are inconsistent, then one must see whether the karma was created primarily by the manas or primarily in accordance with the mental activities of the mind consciousness, and this must be distinguished according to the specific circumstances.