The Operation of the Mental Factor of Deliberation (manasikāra) in Eye Consciousness

Si (思, volition) means to choose, decide, and determine; it represents a power of deliberative selection. Once the conscious mind has determined a dharma, action must follow; si also denotes volition, formation, conduct, action, operation, and so on. All eight consciousnesses have the mental factor of volition (cetanā) operating within them, which means they all require the power of deliberative selection: after discerning, they must all make a choice and a decision, and once decided, they must carry it out. This is the meaning of the mental factor of volition.

Among these, the eye consciousness's discernment of material form cannot be separated from the mind consciousness's discernment; thus the operation of the eye consciousness's volition cannot be separated from the operation of the mind consciousness's volition.

For example, suppose the manas wants to apply ointment, and so decides to look for the ointment bottle. This task is accomplished jointly by the eye consciousness and the mind consciousness; neither alone can see forms and search for material objects. After the manas makes its decision, the eye consciousness and mind consciousness arise and go to the table to search for the ointment bottle. There are several items on the table, and the manas decides to examine them one by one, so the eye consciousness and mind consciousness discern each item in turn. Finally, the eye consciousness fixes on the color of the ointment bottle, and the mind consciousness fixes on its shape; the combined information reveals that it is an ointment bottle—of course, the concept of "ointment bottle" is supplied by the mind consciousness. When the two consciousnesses work together, it is always the mind consciousness that bears the greater workload, has more mental activities, and discerns more dharmas.

When the eye consciousness and mind consciousness fix on the ointment bottle, this amounts to directing attention (manaskāra) toward the bottle, contacting it, receiving it, discerning it, and distinguishing it as an ointment bottle, and finally determining that it is the bottle being sought. Among these, the determination is the function of the mental factor of volition, including the eye consciousness's determination of the bottle's color, and the mind consciousness's determination of its shape, label, and contents. In the determination of all material forms, the mind consciousness's determination is primary and the eye consciousness's determination is supplementary. Once determined, the information is transmitted to the manas, which deliberates and reviews it, and also determines that it is the bottle it needs; it then decides to pick it up. This is another act of deliberative selection. At this point, the eye consciousness, mind consciousness, and body consciousness operate in concert, including the manas, and also including such-and-such consciousness, and the action is produced—the ointment bottle is picked up. This whole process takes only about twenty seconds, yet it takes several minutes to describe.

In the process of discerning material forms, if the eye consciousness has not determined, the mind consciousness cannot determine, still less the manas, and the such-and-such consciousness merely looks on, unable to determine anything. Even if the eye consciousness has determined, the mind consciousness is not necessarily determined, nor can the manas be determined. Only after the mind consciousness has determined does the manas deliberate and review; finally it may determine, or perhaps still cannot. Then the eye consciousness and mind consciousness must discern and confirm again, even repeatedly, providing more information to the manas before the manas can determine and make its choice.

Some people always want to cultivate their practice only up to the mind consciousness and stop there, omitting that final crucial step—what could ever be accomplished that way? What use would it be? If the realization of the fruits is not made to be realized by the manas, what use is the conclusion reached by the mind consciousness? If seeing one's true mind is not made to be seen by the manas, what use is the mind consciousness's seeing? If the boss does not give the final approval, what use is whatever the employees under him say? A practice abandoned halfway is almost entirely effort wasted. Yet there are people who like to abandon things halfway and forgo the final result.