The Meaning of the Manas Silently Containing All Dharmas

Mo (默, silent) means silently, soundlessly, in secret, quietly. This is the characteristic of the manas: the manas is just like this—silently, unknown to others, soundless, quiet, operating in the dark.

Rong (容, contain) means to permit, to coexist, to be together, to contain, to tolerate. This shows that the manas contains everything, permits all dharmas to exist, coexists with all dharmas, operates together with them, and tolerates and receives the arising of all dharmas.

This meaning also says that wherever all dharmas exist, there is the manas; the manas is forever together with all dharmas, operating in common with them. The mind consciousness, however, does not silently contain all dharmas; it cannot exist and operate together with all dharmas. Therefore, the arising and functioning of many dharmas have nothing to do with the mind consciousness; they are not directed or controlled by it, and the mind consciousness has no authority to control the arising of all dharmas. Only the eighth consciousness and the manas are forever together with all dharmas, operating in common with them. But the eighth consciousness has no mental activity or characteristic of directing and manipulating, and no capacity to be the master. This proves that only the manas has the authority to control and to be the master over everything. Its mind of self and nature of self are very heavy, and so its karma of birth and death is also heavy.