All dharmas are driven forth by the manas

As for any dharma that the tathāgatagarbha can manifest, the manas, relying on the tathāgatagarbha, can perceive and discern it all—this is called the manas's silent capacity to encompass. After the manas discerns, if it grasps and then gives rise to the mental factor of deliberation (manana), the tathāgatagarbha, in accordance with this, further manifests the faculties and body, the material world, or the six consciousnesses. All dharmas manifested by the tathāgatagarbha are driven forth from behind by the manas, including the impulsion of karmic seeds and karmic power. The manas corresponds to karmic seeds and karmic power; its mental activity accords with the karmic seeds, and all karmic seeds are created at His behest. Therefore, in the final analysis, all dharmas are driven forth by the manas.

The physical body is also grasped and controlled by the manas—it depends on how great the manas's capacity to control it is. The lifespan of the physical body on the one hand involves the matter of karmic seeds, and on the other hand involves the matters of meditative concentration (samādhi) and merit. When one possesses meditative concentration, the mental power of the manas is extremely great, and the mental power of the mind consciousness is also great, and thus one can transform the body-mind and the world. Meditative concentration also carries the merit of samādhi and can likewise transform karmic seeds. When the power of concentration is strong, the capacity of the manas and the mind consciousness to control the physical body is enhanced; the manas can control the physical body at will—wishing to die, one dies immediately; wishing to live, one can live on for decades, centuries, or even a thousand years. The lifespan is decided by the manas. Because the karmic seeds have been transformed and merit has also been cultivated, the manas can then take charge and have the final say over the temporary matter of birth and death.