The Principle of Silent Recitation

The manas is the consciousness that acts as the master; bodily, verbal, and mental actions are all regulated and directed by the manas. The same is true of silently reciting sutras and mantras in the mind: when the manas wants to recite silently, the mind consciousness recites inwardly without making a sound. Vocal recitation is also done by the mind consciousness—it is because the manas wants to recite that the mind consciousness recites. It is also possible that the mind consciousness wants to recite, and only when the manas deems it acceptable can the mind consciousness recite. In short, the matter of recitation is decided by the manas and carried out by the mind consciousness.

Why does the manas choose between vocal recitation and silent recitation? This choice is extremely hidden and difficult to observe. The mind consciousness always feels that it happens automatically, that it is just natural to be this way. Such a feeling indicates that the mind consciousness is very coarse and lacks meditative concentration, so it cannot observe the subtle and hidden aspects within. The manas makes the choice between reciting vocally and not reciting vocally based on the state of body and mind, based on whether there is sufficient qi within the body. When one is in meditative concentration, once the mind starts moving one feels very tired; vocal recitation consumes a great deal of energy, and the mind consciousness feels tired, so the manas automatically chooses not to vocalize. When one has meditative concentration and the body is fatigued, one will also choose to recite silently in the mind. On the surface it seems automatic, but in fact it is because the manas relies on the eighth consciousness and knows the state of body and mind extremely quickly and closely, enabling it to make choices beneficial to body and mind with great swiftness—things that many people's mind consciousness does not know about.

Silent recitation can increase meditative concentration; or, once meditative concentration has strengthened, one can no longer manage vocal recitation—reciting aloud feels mentally exhausting—so one automatically switches to silent recitation. When meditative concentration strengthens further, even silent recitation becomes tiring, so one switches to vajra recitation, moving only the lips without making a sound, with the sound in the mind also faint. When even vajra recitation feels forced, one switches to mindful recollection in the mind. When meditative concentration strengthens yet again, even mindful recollection will no longer work, and one will enter deep concentration, without any thoughts or mental recitation at all.