The Manifestations of Manas Grasping the Five Aggregates and Six Consciousnesses as Self

The manas also grasps the mind consciousness as self. If the manas did not grasp the five aggregates and the six consciousnesses as self, where would our self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) come from, and how could we eliminate self-view? Then there would be no need to eliminate self-view, no need to eliminate self-grasping, and no need to eliminate afflictions. In that case, sentient beings practicing the Small Vehicle would not need to cultivate at all—how easy and pleasant that would be. But what is the reality?

In studying Buddhism and cultivating practice, one must not die on the words, and must not merely recite famous terms and sayings. Deep understanding and contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), along with reflection in accord with the Dharma, are the most important. If one cannot do this, one is deficient in some respect; one should find a way to discover where the deficiency lies, and then remedy and perfect it. Examine your own bodhicitta: do you have the vows and mental conduct of a bodhisattva? Is your merit sufficient?

If the manas did not grasp the six consciousnesses as self, then in a state of coma, why would the manas always try to wake up? When bound by ropes, why does the manas always try to break free from the bindings? When blindfolded, why does the manas always try to remove the cloth from the eyes? When muted in a group chat and not allowed to speak, why is it unhappy? If the manas has a self, it is unhappy; without a self, who would be unhappy?

Language is the function of the mind consciousness. The manas takes this function as its own function; therefore, when muted and not allowed to speak, it feels a lack of self-mastery (avaśatā). The manas takes the five aggregates and the mind consciousness as self, so when muted, it feels it has lost face. The manas takes the seeing nature of the eye consciousness and the mind consciousness as self, so when blindfolded and unable to see forms, it feels a lack of self-mastery—He must see forms and grasp forms.

The manas takes the functions of the five aggregates and the six consciousnesses as self, and takes the aggregate of formations (saṃskāra) of the six consciousnesses as self. When bound and unable to move, He feels a lack of self-mastery; being without the aggregate of formations is unacceptable. The manas takes the physical body as self; when the body is beaten and injured, He is unhappy and will surely seek revenge on the one who beat him.

The manas takes the aggregate of feeling (vedanā) as self and craves enjoyment; if not allowed to enjoy, He is unhappy. The manas takes the cognitive nature of the six consciousnesses as self; if the six consciousnesses are not allowed to see, hear, perceive, and know, and cannot know the six sense objects, He is unhappy.

A patient with a chronic illness lies in bed for a long time, unable to move. Let us consider: what does the manas feel? A person in a vegetative state has a weak mind consciousness and does not have much sensation of pain. The one who feels the pain must be the manas, who always tries to get out of bed, always tries to know the sense objects, yet always feels powerless to do so. The mind consciousness does not know these things—why? Because of ignorance (avidyā).