Recollection and Memory

Recollection is a function unique to the mind consciousness, facilitated by the mental engagement (manaskāra) of the manas. Why can the manas engage mentally and decide to have the mind consciousness recollect? Because the manas can remember the people, events, and things it has experienced, and afterwards wishes to discern the details; thus, when faculty and sense-object make contact, the mind consciousness arises and recollects the people, events, things, and principles previously experienced. If the manas does not attend to and decide to discern the people, events, things, and principles that were experienced, there will be no arising of the mind consciousness and no recollection. Therefore, memory is not only a function of the mind consciousness but also a function of the manas: if the manas has not remembered, there can be no contact, and thus no recollection. The manas only makes simple, coarse, and generalized memories, whereas the mind consciousness remembers in a comparatively detailed, clear, and specific manner.