The Content of Manas Pertains to the Vijñapti-mātra Bīja-jñāna Category

Nearly one hundred percent of people mistake the state of the manas (mental faculty) for the state of consciousness (vijñāna). Therefore, when someone explains the true characteristics of the manas, they are accused of confusing the manas with consciousness. Yet it is actually the ninety-nine percent or more who are mistaken. Because all these individuals are fully endowed with all afflictions, obscured by ignorance and defilements, and because they have not transformed consciousness into wisdom, they cannot directly observe the present functioning of the manas. Consequently, they inevitably misunderstand one hundred percent. In any era, it is impossible for the vast majority to possess high intelligence free from obscurations while only a few individuals have low intelligence to the point of misunderstanding the Dharma. Those who err in the Saha World are always the overwhelming majority; the witless also remain the overwhelming majority. It is utterly impossible for the vast majority to have transformed consciousness into wisdom and attained the Wisdom of Subtle Discernment (pratyavekṣaṇā-jñāna). Not one in a hundred is possible. Therefore, those who consider themselves clever had best not be overly confident, and certainly should not slander, lest they face severe consequences.

All content pertaining to the manas falls within the scope of the Wisdom of Consciousness-Only (vijñapti-mātratā-jñāna), as does all content related to Consciousness-Only. This is especially true for the mental factors (caittas) associated with each consciousness. Unless one is a Bodhisattva who has entered the stages (bhūmi), it is best to remain silent and avoid lecturing and debating everywhere. Without the wisdom of direct perceptual observation (pratyakṣa-pramāṇa), it is impossible to directly observe the specific operational state of the manas. What is spoken about is mostly imagination and speculation, often misattributing one thing to another. This is generally the case for Dharma practitioners in the Saha World. It is impossible for many to have transformed consciousness into wisdom, attaining the Wisdom of Subtle Discernment and the Wisdom of Equality (samatā-jñāna). Without such wisdom, one should diligently practice in silence, aiming to swiftly attain the first dhyāna (meditative absorption), quickly eliminate the obscurations of afflictions, swiftly cultivate various wisdoms of contemplative observation, and enter the Tathagata's family early. Only then, within meditative concentration, can one directly observe the functioning of the manas through perceptual insight, guiding sentient beings to resolve the problems of the manas and increase the Wisdom of Consciousness-Only.