How to Reverse the Scattered Habitual Tendencies of the Manas

The scatteredness of the mind consciousness and the appearance of the solitary consciousness (mano-vijñāna-eka-citta) are brought about by the manas; if the manas is not scattered, the mind consciousness simply cannot become scattered. If the manas does not dwell upon people and affairs of the past, the mind consciousness cannot recall people and affairs from before. How can one subdue the scatteredness and grasping of the manas? The mind consciousness must first awaken and first understand the principles, and be able to detect in which aspects the manas has habitual tendencies of grasping and what dharmas it likes to grasp at; then one analyzes the impermanent nature of arising, ceasing, and change of these dharmas, letting the manas know that deluded thoughts are of no use either, and how pervasive grasping is detrimental. Then one frequently draws the manas to attend to a single dharma, in order to reverse the manas' habit of scatteredness; gradually the manas will no longer grasp at things, deluded thoughts will decrease, and the mind will settle into concentration.