Simultaneous Discrimination and Thought-Arising by Mind Consciousness and Manas

In the process of discerning all dharmas—whether a thought arises or not, whether the thought is obvious or not, whether in the state of initial application (vitarka) or in the state of sustained examination (vicāra)—there is the discernment of the mind consciousness as well as the discernment of the manas. As long as a dharma is discerned, these two consciousnesses definitely exist simultaneously. The difference lies in who discerns clearly and who discerns unclearly, whose discernment is obvious and whose is not obvious—it is a matter of whose discernment takes the lead. As soon as a thought stirs, these two consciousnesses certainly appear together. Because the manas is the concomitant basis (āśraya) of the mind consciousness, where there is mind consciousness there must be manas; the arising of the mind consciousness is the result of the manas's deliberation and selection. Therefore, when the mind consciousness stirs, the manas must have already stirred. If the discernment and thought-activity of the manas were lacking, the mind consciousness would not appear.

Moreover, the manas is an uninterrupted consciousness; it exists at all times, constantly operating, constantly engaging and grasping, never for a moment ceasing to stir thoughts, never for a moment ceasing to deliberate. It is only that whether His activity is obvious or not, whether His mental activity is scattered or concentrated, whether it is attached or unattached, and whether the mind consciousness can detect His existence and mental activity—these are the differences.

Many people, when their mind consciousness is not stirring thoughts and they cannot observe the manas, feel that they are quite tranquil (praśama) at the moment, with no thoughts. In fact, at this time the manas does have thoughts; He does engage and deliberate (manasikāra). It is merely that the mind consciousness lacks the wisdom to observe. Who knows when the manas will make a decision, and then the mind consciousness on its side will no longer be able to settle down and will begin to engage in some action or activity. Every action of body, speech, and mind, whether great or small, slight or significant, is the result of the manas's deliberation. When He is about to engage in some activity, the mind consciousness cannot settle into tranquility and will act in accordance with the manas's intentions.