All Behavioral Manifestations in Hypnosis Reflect the Nature of Manas

During hypnosis, all recollections of past lives and behavioral manifestations are actions of the manas (the mental faculty) and are unrelated to consciousness (vijñāna), nor are they controlled by consciousness. The psychology and behavior of consciousness pertain solely to the present life and have no connection to past lives, whereas the manas is connected to all successive lives. However, the manas itself exists only for a single lifetime; therefore, if unaffected by consciousness, all events for the manas are not considered distant matters but are as immediate as the present moment.

All behavioral manifestations during hypnosis are the inherent predispositions (vāsanā) of the manas itself, reflecting its essential nature. Whether there is virtuous or non-virtuous nature during hypnosis, whether wholesome mental factors (kuśala-caitta) or unwholesome mental factors (akuśala-caitta) are present, whether there is greed or hatred—all these are characteristics of the manas.

Since the manas presents all matters pertaining to the five aggregates (pañca-skandha) from past lives, it demonstrates that the manas possesses a memory function. However, the expression of the manas relies on the consciousness of the present life during hypnosis. At this time, consciousness can only obediently follow the instructions of the manas; it cannot act autonomously or control the manas. What the manas manifests is its true, original state—its inherent nature—without concealment, fabrication, or pretense. To directly apprehend the essential nature of the manas as it truly is, we can observe and contemplate the manas in the hypnotic state. Through this, we can understand the manas and attain wisdom.