Mind Consciousness and Manas Simultaneously Discern and Generate Thoughts

In the process of discerning all dharmas—whether a thought arises or not, whether the thought is obvious or not, whether one is in the state of initial application (vitarka) or 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 has been discerned, these two consciousnesses must exist simultaneously; the difference lies in who discerns clearly and who discerns unclearly, who discerns obviously and who discerns unobviously—it is a matter of which one takes the lead in discerning. As soon as a thought stirs, these two consciousnesses certainly appear together at the same time. Because the manas is the co-existent support (sahabhū-āśraya) of the mind consciousness, where there is mind consciousness there must be the manas; the arising of the mind consciousness is the result of the manas's deliberation (manasikāra/manana), so when the mind consciousness moves, the manas must already have moved. If the discernment and thought-activity of the manas were lacking, the mind consciousness would not appear.

The manas, however, is an uninterrupted consciousness; it exists at all times, constantly operating, constantly cognitively clinging, constantly 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 with attachment or without attachment, 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 have cognitive clinging and deliberation—it is merely that the mind consciousness lacks the wisdom to observe. Who knows when the manas might make a decision, and then the mind consciousness on its side can no longer 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.