The Relationship between the Manas and Meditative Concentration

A question lingered in the mind, remaining unresolved for a long time. During a relatively leisurely moment, the manas decided to ponder it thoroughly, so the mind consciousness and the manas began racking their brains together. But why, while deliberating deeply, do the hands cooperate by propping up the chin, the eyes cooperate by closing slightly, and the body becomes quiet and stops fidgeting? And when the deep deliberation finally yields an answer and the problem is solved, why do the hands cooperate by clapping, why does one dance with joy, and why does the face blossom with delight?

When the manas recognizes that the current problem is important, it will focus on thinking about it and have no time to chase after other mental objects (dharmāyatana). The manas is the master consciousness of the first six consciousnesses; when the manas is quiet, the body becomes quiet. Those who cannot cultivate meditative concentration (dhyāna-samādhi) should carefully examine their own manas to see what it is filled with, and quickly empty out the manas. If you cannot subdue the manas, do not expect to attain meditative concentration, nor expect to be able to truly practice diligently.

Quite a few people think they are quite good—perhaps their mind consciousness is good, but their manas is not; deep down they are not so good. Not many people can truly see themselves clearly. Some people dare not explore the depths of their own minds, fearing that some bad thoughts and views might be uncovered, and then... For many good people, the mind consciousness is better than the manas—what does this show? For many bad people, the manas is better than the mind consciousness—what does this show? It shows that the power of environmental conditioning is very great, and the mind consciousness is easily influenced by wholesome and unwholesome conditioning. Does the phenomenon of the manas being better than the mind consciousness exist? In a rather harsh environment, the mind consciousness may be tainted by unwholesome conditioning and become worse than the manas; some bad people are not bad deep down, but are merely pressured by their environment.