A Discussion on Whether the Manas Is Neutral

Everyone, look at this: why would this mother dog educate and manage her children? Why does she surpass so many human parents and teachers? What is meant by rules carved into the bones? What is carved into the bones is innate, brought from past lives, and possessed by the manas. Such habits are wholesome habits. This mother dog was a human in a past life and was once a parent; as a parent, she understood social rules and etiquette, and therefore dutifully educated her own children, so that this behavior was carved into her bones and became a habit, carried through life after life. No matter which realm she transmigrates into, she strictly abides by the rules, is well-mannered, and knows how to educate, teaching her children through both words and personal example. The manas habits of this mother dog are entirely wholesome and wise, and not merely of a neutral (avyākṛta) nature.

With such wholesome habits, if she transmigrates into the human world again, she will become a very responsible parent or teacher. To have such parents and teachers is a great fortune and blessing. Therefore, everyone should try to form wholesome karmic connections with wholesome people, and try to form wholesome karmic connections with those of great wisdom; in the future, one will fully enjoy their grace and kindness, bathe in the light of wisdom, improve one's overall qualities, and increase the likelihood of attaining a human body. How fortunate that would be! 

Ru Hua: The manas is indeed not merely neutral (avyākṛta). Ordinary beings have very many thoughts deep in their hearts every day—some wholesome, some unwholesome, and some neither wholesome nor unwholesome. In fact, one can discern this by examining one's own manas habits,

Ru Zhao: Yes, Master. The kitten in my home is only a little over two months old. When she was young, the mother cat taught her very well. From the moment she arrived at our home, she would find a place to relieve herself on her own, use her paws to dig a hole, cover it up after relieving herself, pat her paws clean before coming out, and then clean her body. But many cats have not developed good habits from a young age because their mother cats did not teach them well, and they urinate and defecate everywhere. From such a simple matter, one can know that even the manas of animals is not neutral (avyākṛta).

Suzhou: Whether the manas is neutral (avyākṛta) or determinate cannot be explained clearly through logic, just like explaining colors to a blind person using logic. So ordinary beings without the ability of direct realization can only run aground—let us not comment for now! But can a bodhisattva with the ability of direct realization overturn the unreliable logic of ordinary beings? If even they cannot, then these are truly two different worlds! 

Ru Zhao: The afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion of sentient beings are so heavy—how could they not be directly realized? One's own afflictions and attachments are also plainly evident. If the manas were neutral (avyākṛta), one would not kill living beings and eat meat, seize resources, or burn, kill, and plunder. If one's own manas were neutral (avyākṛta), one would not chase fame and profit, but would only do things meaningful to oneself. These things are not observable only by bhūmi bodhisattvas; anyone with observational ability can observe them. Otherwise, one is either deluded or simply refuses to admit having afflictions, forcibly putting a tall hat on oneself.

Assessment: As for observing the manas, if one has not learned the correct, deep, and detailed dharma of the manas, it is truly very difficult for ordinary people to observe the characteristics and habits of the manas, and also very hard to understand. They cannot even distinguish the difference between the mind consciousness and the manas, conflating the two together without distinction, so misunderstanding is inevitable. Moreover, if one has learned incorrect dharma meanings about the manas, it becomes even more difficult to understand and observe the true characteristics and habits of the manas.

Suzhou: In these phenomena, is it the mind consciousness observing the manas, or the mind consciousness observing the mind consciousness? I have now observed that I am fond of debating. Having heard the Buddhadharma, this is the manas instructing the mind consciousness—the source is the manas—so I have concluded that my manas is fond of debating. Is judging based on knowledge the same thing as actually observing it?

Assessment: When the mind consciousness draws conclusions based on the direct perception of its own words, deeds, thoughts, and mental activity, this is called observation through direct perception. If one has wisdom, one will arrive at correct conclusions; if one lacks wisdom, one will arrive at erroneous conclusions. Regarding the same currently existing phenomenon, people of different wisdom will use different bases for judgment and arrive at different conclusions. These phenomena clearly arise from the habits of the manas. Although they are created by the six consciousnesses, one who knows how to observe will observe the source and root from the surface inward, rather than merely observing shallow surface phenomena. The wisdom of the mind consciousness comes, first, from external learning, and second, is bestowed by the manas, being influenced by the manas.