The Method of Deep Deliberation Using the Manas

Sit cross-legged in stillness, exhale deeply and then inhale. After the mind has calmed down and settled, begin to ponder a question deeply. At first, the thinking is certainly done by the mind consciousness; as one gradually focuses on the question, the mind consciousness simply watches the question without the mind moving, and the deliberation and investigation are then taken over by the manas, which deliberates deeply. Although the manas does move, it moves extremely, extremely slowly, and in the end it seems to be motionless as well; the question then hangs suspended in the vast, empty brain—or in the supreme faculty (indriya), or what is called the black box.

As the mind consciousness attends and the manas deliberates, information without language or words will flash forth; the manas knows it and the mind consciousness also understands it, though not necessarily very clearly. If the power of meditative concentration is sufficient and does not weaken, the information will then come more and more, becoming clearer and clearer; the mind increasingly understands what the information is, and the answer to the question gradually emerges, and the mind becomes relaxed and bright. After emerging from meditation, the mind consciousness needs to filter through, recall, and examine all the information that appeared in the brain from beginning to end, and finally confirm it; the manas then confirms it accordingly, and the result is settled.

The entire process requires very deep and focused meditative concentration. During the deep pondering, the power of concentration may grow better and better, to the point that the mind enters into meditative absorption, relaxed, joyful, and comfortable—only there may not necessarily be deliberation by the manas. After emerging from meditation, or after the power of concentration weakens, one continues the deliberation and investigation, and the final result will eventually appear.