The Introspective Power of the Manas

The power of introspection (pratyavekṣā-bala) of the manas is possessed by all sentient beings; it is only that the mind consciousness lacks great wisdom, and before consciousness is transformed into wisdom, it cannot observe it. Although the manas knows all dharmas, observation must rely on the mind consciousness; if the mind consciousness cannot observe, then it does not know, and the manas's knowing that the mind consciousness does not know seems to serve no purpose.

After the manas knows, in order to get things done, it must rely on the mind consciousness; if the mind consciousness does not know, nothing can be accomplished. Therefore, all people take the mind consciousness's knowing as their knowing; if the mind consciousness does not know, they believe they themselves do not know, and what they themselves do not know, they say does not exist. This is the thinking logic of the vast majority of people, and this logic is mistaken. If sentient beings lack great wisdom, none of their errors can be recognized, let alone corrected. Since sentient beings cannot recognize their own errors and ignorance, and do not know that they are situated amid a great many pitfalls, there is no way for them to climb out of these pitfalls; there will forever be a fog before their eyes, and they can see nothing clearly—this is ignorance (avidyā). The heavier the ignorance, the harder it is to have the wisdom to see facts clearly, and the harder it is to attain liberation.