Why Does the Manas Long and Yearn?

What does the manas's longing arise from? Is it not because the manas has remembered certain things—only those it is more concerned about will it long for, and only those that are more important and need to be further resolved will it think upon? All dharmas arise dependent on the manas's mindfulness; only when the manas is mindful can the eighth consciousness cooperate and bring forth the dharmas that the manas is mindful of. If the manas is not mindful, the eighth consciousness pays no heed, the six consciousnesses do not arise, and then no problem can be solved. The dharmas that the mind consciousness is mindful of, thinks of, and deliberates upon, and the dharmas it discerns, are all brought forth through the mindfulness of the manas. Without the manas's mindfulness, the mind consciousness cannot arise, let alone other mental activities.

Sometimes, after the mind consciousness has arisen, it longs for certain dharmas, but if these longings and thoughts have not been habituated into the manas, and the manas is not mindful of them, then the dharmas the mind consciousness is mindful of will not be accomplished. For example, when memorizing Buddhist sutras, the mind consciousness may recite them very fluently, but if it does not sink into the manas's heart, the mind consciousness cannot memorize them; memorizing is recollection, and if the manas has not remembered, the mind consciousness cannot recollect. The mind consciousness's recollection is guided by the manas; if the manas cannot guide the content of the sutra, the mind consciousness cannot recite it. If the manas is not interested in reciting sutras, the mind consciousness can only recite for a while before it cannot continue—the mind becomes restless and distracted. The manas is more flexible and agile than the five sense consciousnesses, and far more flexible and agile than the mind consciousness as well; He is the dynamic force behind the manifestation of all dharmas. Therefore, His functions and roles must far surpass those of the five sense consciousnesses and surpass those of the mind consciousness—only then can this be accomplished.