The Relationship Between Manas and the Six Consciousnesses in Bodily, Verbal, and Mental Actions

Question: Since the manas (mental faculty) governs the physical, verbal, and mental actions of a person, what specific roles do the six consciousnesses play in physical and verbal actions?

Answer: The sixth consciousness (mental consciousness) is the specific executor and agent of physical and verbal actions. Observing physical and verbal actions reveals how the sixth consciousness operates and what functions it performs. For instance, walking, standing, sitting, lying down, speaking, laughing, eating, drinking, and so forth are all produced by the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness. However, the controller is the manas. Superficially, it may seem as if the sixth consciousness is directing these actions, but it merely provides suggestions to the manas. The actual decisions rest with the manas. During the process, the sixth consciousness may generate other ideas and advise the manas. If the manas deems them reasonable, it adopts them; if not, the decisions and commands remain unchanged, and the sixth consciousness must proceed accordingly.

Physical actions arise from the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness. Verbal actions also arise from the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness. Seeing forms arises from the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the eye consciousness. Hearing sounds arises from the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the ear consciousness. Smelling scents arises from the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the nose consciousness. Tasting flavors arises from the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the tongue consciousness. Perceiving touch arises from the cooperative functioning of the sixth consciousness and the body consciousness. In the functioning of all six sense faculties, the operation of the sixth consciousness is present. Without the sixth consciousness, the aggregate body (the five skandhas) cannot move. If the sixth consciousness is weak, the aggregate body also struggles to move effectively.

When sentient beings lack sufficient meditative stability and wisdom in contemplative practice, they can only perceive the functioning of the six consciousnesses in physical, verbal, and mental actions. They cannot perceive the governing and decision-making role of the manas, let alone the fundamental role played by the eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna). This is because the operational characteristics of the manas and the eighth consciousness are too subtle. Due to insufficient wholesome roots and merit, ordinary people find it very difficult to observe them. Because they cannot observe them, some claim that all phenomena are merely the functions of the six consciousnesses, denying the existence of the manas and the eighth consciousness. This is the unwise view known as the "theory of six consciousnesses."