A Contrast Between Manas and Consciousness

Question: Whatever suggestion is given to the manas (the mental faculty), the manas will actualize it, whether positive or negative. The manas possesses no moral cognition, no sense of right or wrong, only habitual tendencies. Consciousness possesses moral constraints, a sense of shame, and a sense of responsibility—none of which the manas possesses or is capable of possessing. The manas is the direct mind; it accumulates the imprints of actions performed throughout beginningless kalpas (aeons). Whenever the opportunity arises, it acts upon them without any constraints of value judgments concerning right or wrong, high or low, responsibility, honor, loss, or gain. Instinct, intuition, spontaneity, and so forth are the intrinsic nature of the manas. It does not conceal, does not adorn itself, harbors no false sentiments, and contains no utilitarian component. Is this correct?

Answer: That is correct. The manas is primarily non-definitive (avyākṛta); it does not know concepts of good and evil, lacks the ability to judge right and wrong. From this perspective, its discerning wisdom is inferior. The manas belongs to the most primordial level; the primordial is also simple, also ignorant, also direct, depending on what was imprinted upon it in the past.

Consciousness is cunning, clever, and wise; the mind is not straightforward, also depending on what was imprinted upon it in the past and present. It can be both good and evil. When evil, it may be worse than the manas, inciting the manas; when good, it can be better than the manas, guiding the manas. Consciousness is more scheming because it possesses the capacity for analytical thought. If others attempt to pry into one's privacy, consciousness, when alert, will absolutely conceal it; when consciousness is not alert, the manas cannot be incited by consciousness and will reveal whatever is present without concealment, because it cannot judge good and evil, advantage and disadvantage, having no value orientation, being relatively genuine and pure.