The Regulation of Recollection in Consciousness by Manas

Question: Some say that the scope of manas (the mental faculty) is extremely vast and profound, encompassing all objects without exception, and thus manas is incapable of remembering anything. They claim that recalling past events in this life has always been the function of the mind-consciousness (mano-vijñāna), having nothing to do with manas. Is this view correct?

Answer: This view is incorrect. Although the dharmas (objects) that manas clings to are extensive, making focused attention difficult, manas still retains memories of the people, events, and things it has experienced. However, it cannot recall them in the same way as mind-consciousness does. For manas to process the dharmas it remembers, it must direct mind-consciousness to recall them. Only after mind-consciousness recalls them can the six consciousnesses (vijñānas) process them concretely. If mind-consciousness fails to recall them, processing cannot occur, because manas lacks the six consciousnesses as tools and cannot function independently.

If manas has no desire to process the remembered dharmas, deeming them unimportant or unnecessary, it will not instruct mind-consciousness to recall them. Whether mind-consciousness engages in recollection depends entirely on the command, mobilization, and control of manas; it hinges on manas's intention. Events experienced by manas in past lives, if requiring special attention or processing, will also prompt manas to direct mind-consciousness to recall them. However, since mind-consciousness did not experience those events, it cannot recall them. It may feel perplexed and find it incredible, appearing somewhat muddled and confused. If mind-consciousness is relatively astute, it may grasp things partially, half-understood, half-uncomprehended. For example, when walking in a certain place, mind-consciousness might feel a sense of familiarity but cannot recall when it was there before. Manas, however, knows—it knows it was there in a past life. Now, passing through the same place, manas will cause mind-consciousness to perceive and feel this, but since mind-consciousness cannot recall it, it only feels as if it has experienced it due to the hint from manas. The same occurs when meeting certain people.

When encountering toys or objects familiar from before the age of three or five, mind-consciousness feels a special affection and a unique sensation, yet it cannot articulate why. This is hinted to mind-consciousness by manas. Manas knows these objects, though it cannot recall them in detail or remember specifics; it merely alerts mind-consciousness. Therefore, manas definitely possesses a memory function—it remembers but cannot recall. When mind-consciousness attains supernatural powers (ṛddhi), it can rely on manas to recall events from countless past lives. However, when manas has no need, even if mind-consciousness possesses supernatural powers, it will not engage in recall or discernment, as it is still commanded and controlled by manas.