The Power of Consciousness Alone Is Insufficient to Sever Self-View

Someone asked Manjusri Bodhisattva: Since one clearly understands the principle that birth is actually non-birth, why is one still bound by birth? Manjusri Bodhisattva replied: Its strength is insufficient.

Which consciousness is it that clearly understands? Which consciousness has insufficient strength? The clear understanding belongs to the conscious mind (consciousness). Although the conscious mind knows certain principles, it is ineffective; one still remains bound by birth and death because the conscious mind cannot make decisions or have the final say. The insufficient strength belongs to the manas (mind root). The conscious mind's thoughts and concepts have not yet reached the manas; if the manas does not acknowledge them, it lacks the power to change the current state. The key lies in whether the manas can recognize this truth, eliminate delusions and attachments. Only when the manas eradicates delusions and attachments can one break free from the prison of birth and death.

From this, we understand that merely superficially knowing certain Buddhist principles with the conscious mind—such as the principle of eradicating the view of self or realizing the mind and perceiving true nature—cannot resolve the problem of birth and death. One must penetrate deeply into the manas, enabling the manas to comprehend the principle, in order to transform oneself and resolve the issue of birth and death. This is because all matters are decided by the manas; the manas has the final say. The manas possesses strength, while the conscious mind has little power and cannot govern affairs. To change the cycle of birth and death for the "household" of the five aggregates, one must persuade the master of the household; merely convincing one family member is insufficient. The manas is the master of the household; all matters of the five-aggregate world are decided by the manas. When the manas gains sufficient strength, one first eradicates the view of self, then eradicates self-attachment, and in future lives, one will no longer be bound by birth and death.