The Deliberation (manana) Function of the Manas

Question: There are problems I cannot solve, yet sometimes when I am not thinking about the problem, an answer suddenly appears in my mind. What is going on?

Answer: When the mind consciousness cannot solve a problem, it is set aside and left alone, but the manas does not give up; it keeps deliberating (manana) on it secretly, and at a certain point it can figure it out, then it informs the mind consciousness, and the mind consciousness understands. The manas brings forth a thought, and the mind consciousness suppresses it—sometimes the suppression succeeds, sometimes it fails. Some still say the manas has no thoughts; even if one thought with one's fingers, one would know that the manas must have thoughts, for otherwise how could all dharmas appear?