The Four Relationships between the Manas and the Mind Consciousness

Psychological problems in people are generally problems of the manas. When the manas long goes without understanding and outlet, and has been suppressed for a long time, psychological problems arise, manifesting various psychological symptoms. To guide and resolve the manas's psychological problems, one way is to rely on other people who understand psychology; the other is to rely on one's own mind consciousness. If the mind consciousness clearly understands the psychological state of the manas, and has methods for solving problems, along with the ability and wisdom to solve them, it can gradually and step by step guide and release the manas's psychological emotions, letting the manas open its heart and comprehend the meaning, dispelling depression, so that suppressed emotions are guided and released.

Generally speaking, there are about four kinds of relationship between the manas and the mind consciousness: the mind consciousness being in harmonious accord with the manas comprises two cases, and the mind consciousness being out of harmonious accord with the manas also comprises two cases.

The first case: the manas is wholesome and the mind consciousness is also wholesome; the two are in harmonious accord in wholesomeness. The mind consciousness does not contradict the manas, and moreover can enhance the wholesomeness of the manas. The result is wholesomeness without any hesitation, wholesomeness done freely and wholeheartedly, wholesomeness from the inside out. There is no psychological problem; after doing wholesome deeds, the mind feels even more refreshed. This is great wholesomeness, which can yield great wholesome retribution; the seeds of wholesome karma ripen quickly, and the wholesome retribution is received quickly as well.

The second case: the manas is unwholesome and the mind consciousness is also unwholesome; the two are in harmonious accord in unwholesomeness. The mind consciousness does not contradict the manas in the slightest, and moreover enhances the unwholesomeness of the manas. The two then join together in unwholesomeness done freely and wholeheartedly, without hesitation; after committing unwholesome karma, one feels even more refreshed and psychologically comfortable, feeling no shame or remorse. There is no psychological problem, but this is great unwholesomeness; the seeds of unwholesome karma ripen quickly, and the unwholesome retribution is received quickly as well.

The third case: the manas is unwholesome while the mind consciousness is wholesome. When the mind consciousness is single-mindedly oriented toward wholesomeness, the manas feels uncomfortable and is unwilling to be wholesome, but under environmental pressure it has no choice but to be wholesome; then psychological problems arise in the manas, and afterward there may be regret. Sometimes this psychological problem can be resolved, and sometimes it cannot. This belongs to true unwholesomeness with false wholesomeness; the essence is unwholesome. If the unwholesome power of the manas is greater than the power of the environment, and the wholesomeness of the mind consciousness is relatively weak, having no influence on the manas, so that the perfuming is unsuccessful, then unwholesome karma will be committed—this is true unwholesomeness. But it is not always so. If the mind consciousness is perfumed by a good environment, becoming more and more wholesome, and influences the manas, overcoming the manas's unwholesomeness, then afterward it may commit wholesome karma and no longer do evil.

The fourth case: the manas is wholesome while the mind consciousness, influenced by the environment, has unwholesome thoughts. When the manas is coerced by the environment into being unwholesome, there will be psychological shadows, suppression, and remorse. Sometimes this psychological problem can be resolved through repentance and remediation, and sometimes it cannot be remedied, and the knot in the manas's mind is tied. This belongs to true wholesomeness with false unwholesomeness; the essence is not corrupted. If the wholesome power of the manas is relatively great and the unwholesome power of the mind consciousness is small, unable to overcome the wholesomeness or perfume it, then in the end the manas's wholesomeness takes charge and commits wholesome karma. But this does not mean it is always so. If the unwholesome environment persists and the unwholesome power of the mind consciousness grows stronger, the manas may also comply with the mind consciousness's unwholesomeness and decide to commit unwholesome karma; then the manas has been successfully perfumed by unwholesomeness.