The Modes of expression of the Manas

Question: In a dream, two people, A and B, are conversing. A asks: Is there a self in feeling and consciousness? B answers: There is no self. Both the question and the answer are expressions in language by the mind consciousness. So, does the manas participate in this question-and-answer exchange?

Answer: The entire dream is presented by the manas. By means of the person A, it raises its own question, with the purpose of getting its mind consciousness to think about it and solve this problem on its behalf. When the manas needs the mind consciousness to solve a problem, it is because doubt has already arisen and it wants to resolve the doubt, and only then does it produce this dream.

What is expressed in language and words is the function of the mind consciousness. Behind the mind consciousness's expression, there is the manas's decision-making and impetus, and the manas's thinking. The mind consciousness is impelled by the manas to express; what is expressed may be the mind consciousness's own view, may be the manas's view, or may be a view shared by both. If the manas has no questioning doubt about this issue and does not want to know the answer, it will not have this dream.

If the manas already knows the answer to the question, how should it express it when the other party asks? Because the manas has no function of language and words, when it wants to express, first, it does so through the mind consciousness's language, words, and voice, and the mind consciousness will answer quickly without deliberation, as if not going through the brain, without needing to think; if it pauses to think and hesitate, what is expressed is generally more the mind consciousness's own view. Second, the manas may express through a mental realm, or what is called a state of experience; the manas will present a realm that represents the manas's thoughts, views, and psychological state. And the deepest realm is usually called a meditative absorption (samādhi) realm. When eradicating the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa) and seeing the mind and enlightening, there will appear the meditative absorption realm of the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā, representing that the manas has realized emptiness and no-self. When the manas abides in a meditative absorption realm, that is seeing the Path.

If the manas has understood and realized that there is no self in feeling and consciousness, what manifestations will there be in daily life? What differences from before? What mental dispositions and habits have changed?

Bai Xuexiang's experience: The changes in daily life are extremely, extremely great. It is only that habitual tendencies will arise from time to time, but they are instantly perceived by awareness, and gradually the habitual tendencies become less and less powerful. These habitual tendencies are precisely karmic force.

Ru She's experience: One no longer cares about the cognitive troubles brought by feeling and consciousness, and has no impulse to stir up greedy or delusive thoughts; afflictions rarely arise in the mind, the pace of life slows down a great deal, and experiencing people and matters feels like watching from outside, with a sense of detachment — though I don't know whether this will increase compassion.

A sense of detachment from people and matters means a certain degree of separation has been made from people and matters, no longer so closely attached and dependent. This is a psychological state approaching emptiness; one's practice has achieved a certain effect, and one has entered the stage of the four foundations of heat (nirvedha-bhāgīya). After passing this stage, one eradicates the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa).