The Agility of Manas

Whenever we are in moments of pleasant surprise, astonishment, alarm, or shock—times when we rack our brains without paying attention—the consciousness finds itself incapable of thought, utterly helpless. Yet the mental faculty stirs rapidly within, its function of deliberation very potent. Ultimately, without relying on the analytical thinking and observation of consciousness, it devises a solution to cope, thereby avoiding a calamity and escaping danger. We often say that a person is very alert and quick to react. Now, consider: Is it the consciousness that is alert and quick to react, or the mental faculty, or both? This depends on the specific circumstances. An immediate reaction, one too swift for thought, reflects the alertness of the mental faculty. A reaction that allows for some degree of thought reflects the alertness of the consciousness. When the consciousness is alert, in most cases the mental faculty is alert as well. When one is dazed, the consciousness may be dazed, but the mental faculty is certainly not. The mental faculty never enters a state of daze or ceases its deliberation. One can realize this by personally experiencing moments of daze.