Attention of the Manas (Seventh Consciousness) as the Mind Faculty in the Seed State

The attention (manaskāra) mental factor of the manas, the seventh consciousness, also initially begins to direct attention toward the six sense objects while still in the seed stage. After directing attention, the mental factors of contact, feeling, perception, and volition begin to operate toward the six sense objects. When the manas decides to discern the six sense objects, the six consciousnesses arise in accordance. The seeds of the seventh consciousness must also have a place of arising; it is not the case that whenever the seeds randomly encounter some dharma, they arise—otherwise the minds of sentient beings would be in utter chaos, and sentient beings would hardly ever have a day of peace. The seeds of the six consciousnesses must likewise have a place of arising. If, while in the seed stage, there were no directing of attention, the consciousness seeds would arise randomly and indiscriminately everywhere, the six consciousnesses would fall into disorder, and sentient beings would be at a loss. Therefore, the consciousness seeds must first have a place of arising: while in the seed stage, attention is directed first, and then the seeds arise. After arising, the six consciousnesses directly make contact with the six sense objects; the contact mental factor operates after the consciousness has arisen. If the six consciousnesses cannot give rise to the final deliberative mind, they will again direct attention toward the six sense objects. The attention at this point is the attention that occurs after the six consciousnesses are in current operation, not the attention of the seed stage.