The Constant Scrutiny and Mentation of Manas

The character "审" (scrutiny) in the phrase "意根恒审思量" (the manas constantly scrutinizes and considers) reveals the mental activity of the manas and exposes its function. This demonstrates that the manas is neither useless nor merely ornamental; it possesses a crucially decisive role—it is a vibrant and dynamic consciousness essence.

Whenever the manas encounters any dharmas (phenomena), it must scrutinize them. All dharmas discerned by the six consciousnesses must be scrutinized by the manas. If they pass scrutiny, decisions are made, and processing occurs. So, what role does the manas play in Chan meditation? What role does it play in severing the view of self? What role does it play in realizing the mind and perceiving the true nature? What role does it play in realizing all dharmas? In all these, it plays the decisive role.

All dharmas must pass through the scrutiny of the manas. If the manas has not examined and approved them, they cannot be processed. During its scrutiny, the manas has its own conscious activity; it must deliberate and is not entirely subservient to the six consciousnesses, immediately endorsing whatever they discern. Therefore, everything perceived by the six consciousnesses must be made perfectly clear to the manas. If the manas is not clear, the scrutiny fails, it cannot pass, and the manas cannot make a decision. Severing the view of self and realizing the mind and perceiving the true nature must both undergo examination and approval by the manas. If the manas does not agree, one cannot sever the view of self nor realize the mind and perceive the true nature. Severing the view of self or realizing the mind based solely on the mental consciousness is merely the mental consciousness's own understanding and belief. If the master and leader (the manas) do not agree, it does not count. How could it be possible for the mental consciousness to presumptuously declare the severing of the view of self and the realization of the mind without the leader's approval?

How can the manas arrive at results and answers by itself? The mental consciousness should analyze and think less, allowing the manas more opportunity to deliberate and consider on its own. This is the most effective approach. Once the mental consciousness knows the answer, it no longer wishes to investigate, and the manas then has no chance to inquire, forever preventing realization. Therefore, if the answer to realizing the mind is casually sought out or spoken of, and the mental consciousness learns it, the manas can no longer exert effort, making realization impossible. The same applies to the content of severing the view of self. One should not ask the master to explain in excessive detail, for if the mental consciousness already knows everything, the manas cannot engage in further contemplation, making severing the view of self extremely difficult.