The Difference Between Dvesha in Mental Consciousness and Dvesha in the Mind Faculty

Question: When anger arises, does the manas generate anger simultaneously with the consciousness, or is it only the consciousness that generates anger? What is the manas doing at that time? Why, even after the consciousness has already understood the matter that provoked anger through right view, does the mind still feel deeply distressed and painful? Is the manas still fixated on that matter? Or is the manas not involved? The consciousness quickly comprehends the reasoning of the matter, and once the manas also understands it, the mind suddenly feels liberated and comfortable. But why does this distress fade so slowly? Is it because the manas cannot grasp the reasoning as quickly as the consciousness?

Answer: All mental activities of the consciousness arise from what? Then consider, from what does the consciousness originate? It is born from the tathāgatagarbha after the manas contacts the objects of the mind. What are the objects of the mind? They are the content, perceived by the manas, that is worth getting angry about. When the manas contacts objects of the mind deemed worthy of anger and intends to act out, once the volitional formation determines it, the tathāgatagarbha gives rise to the consciousness to fulfill the manas's intention. Thus, the consciousness arises and manifests anger. When the manas intends to act, it inevitably requires the consciousness to assist in that action, because the manas, lacking an agent, cannot act alone in certain mental phenomena; it needs the consciousness to help it act. It is at this point that the consciousness arises. The consciousness is the spokesperson and instrument of the manas, expressing the manas's inner voice.

So how does the phenomenon of the consciousness becoming angry arise? It is because the manas is angry and wants to vent, to express its angry attitude. The tathāgatagarbha then cooperates by giving rise to the consciousness, using it to express the manas's anger. Once the consciousness arises, it generates the mental activity of anger.

When the manas generates anger, it is genuine anger; when only the consciousness is angry, it is false anger. Genuine anger from the manas has various manifestations, such as facial expressions like flushing red and neck bulging, verbal actions like harsh speech, bodily postures like quivering with rage or even resorting to violence. These are all co-created by the consciousness and the body consciousness, acting in accordance with the manas's mental activity, fully expressing the manas's mental state. When the consciousness alone is angry, it is because while discerning a situation, it finds it somewhat unsatisfactory, but the manas feels indifferent and remains calm. This kind of anger lacks force and will not lead to serious actions; it is merely a superficial display.

However, the reactions of the two after anger arises differ, and their levels of awakening are different. The consciousness may immediately reflect upon itself, observing these actions and behaviors. The consciousness might recognize that anger is wrong, and it can quickly understand why it is wrong through reasoning. Although the consciousness comprehends this, the manas still does not understand, so it remains angry, seething inside. The consciousness might say, "Don't be angry, don't be angry, it was originally our own fault." Even if the consciousness says this, the manas still does not comprehend and continues to be angry. Sometimes, the manas cannot control its urge to lash out and hit someone. The consciousness might say, "Don't hit people, hitting is bad." But the manas does not listen, so while saying "don't hit," it raises its hand and strikes anyway. Therefore, even when the consciousness is rational and understands the principle, it may not necessarily control the manas. If the manas insists on acting out, the consciousness has no choice but to assist and cooperate with it, compelled to obey the command of the master, the manas.

Our mental behaviors are divided into the level of consciousness and the level of manas. The level of consciousness is passive and must obey the will of the manas. For the level of consciousness to take charge, it must influence and successfully condition the manas. Only then will the manas make decisions and act in accordance with the consciousness's thoughts. If the consciousness fails to condition the manas, and the manas still insists on acting according to its own mental inclinations, then no matter how much the consciousness advises, it is useless. Telling it not to be angry, it remains angry; telling it not to act a certain way, it insists on doing so anyway. There is no alternative. The consciousness, helpless, goes along with it. Saying one thing but doing another occurs because the manas refuses to heed the consciousness's advice, acts willfully, and cannot act according to what the consciousness says, resulting in inconsistency between mind and action.