The Functions of the Mental Factor of Volition (cetanā) and the Mental Factor of Wisdom (prajñā) in the Manas

In the process of eliminating self-view and realizing the mind and seeing its nature, both the manas's deliberative nature and its mental faculty of wisdom (wisdom-caitta) are functioning. Because the manas has the capacity for discernment, recognition, cognition, decision-making, sovereignty, clinging, and attachment, the wisdom-caitta is brought into play; without wisdom, none of these functions would exist. It is only that the functional character of this wisdom is rather special: it is broad and general in nature, unable to be focused and deep, and its discernment cannot be too specific and fine. Therefore, the dharmas of the six sense-objects require the cooperation of the six consciousnesses for discernment, after which the manas makes its own unique discernment, judgment, and decision. This also involves the functioning of the wisdom-caitta. Without the discerning wisdom of the wisdom-caitta, the manas would have no cognitive nature (识性) and would possess only the nature of a sense faculty (根性); but the manas possesses both.

The manas's deliberative nature universally accompanies the manas's operation. As long as the manas exists, its deliberative nature is also operating moment by moment. Because the manas deliberates moment by moment, decides moment by moment, and exercises sovereignty moment by moment, all dharmas can arise moment after moment without ceasing; otherwise, all dharmas would at times be severed and discontinuous. As long as the manas has objects upon which it relies, and as long as it applies mental engagement (manaskāra) to and makes contact with all dharmas, the manas's deliberative nature will manifest upon all dharmas, and only then can all dharmas operate and exist. Only through the continuous operation of the manas's deliberative nature can there be the operation of the manas's wisdom-caitta. The manas is universally present within all dharmas, so the manas's five universal mental factors (pañca-sarvatraga) must be universally present in the operation of all dharmas; this is the precondition for the arising of the manas's wisdom. The same is true of the five universal mental factors of the other consciousnesses.

Therefore, in the process of eliminating self-view and realizing the mind through awakening, the manas's deliberative nature is operating throughout. The process of deliberation also reflects the manas's wisdom: with different degrees of wisdom, the process, content, and result of deliberation differ, the conclusions drawn differ, the decisions made differ, and the actions and beneficial experiences of the six consciousnesses differ. Because the manas, when deliberating on the five aggregates, possesses the wisdom of the emptiness of the Small Vehicle, it can recognize that the five aggregates are empty and selfless, and thereby eliminate self-view. And because the manas, when deliberating on the eighth consciousness, possesses the wisdom of the Mahāyāna dharma, it can recognize the reality of the eighth consciousness, and thereby give birth to the wisdom of suchness. The manas's deliberative nature and its discerning wisdom assist and coordinate with each other in their operation; if either one is lacking, all dharmas cannot function normally.