The Difference between the Anger of the Mind Consciousness and the Anger of the Manas

Question: When anger arises, does the manas become angry simultaneously with the mind consciousness, or does only the mind consciousness become angry? What is the manas doing at that time? Why is it that even after the mind consciousness has thought through, with right view, the matter that provoked the anger, the mind still feels depressed and pained? Is the manas still entangled with that matter? Or is it that the manas did not participate at all? As for the principle of the matter, the mind consciousness figures it out very quickly, and once the manas also figures it out, the mind suddenly breaks through and feels comfortable. But this depression disappears very slowly—is it because the manas, unlike the mind consciousness, cannot quickly grasp the principle?

Answer: All the mental activities and actions of the mind consciousness—out of what are they produced? Then consider: out of what is the mind consciousness born? It is born from the tathāgatagarbha after the manas contacts the mental sense-objects. What are the mental sense-objects? They are the anger-worthy content contacted by the manas. When the manas contacts the anger-worthy mental sense-object and wants to erupt, once the volition mental factor (cetanā) makes its decision, the tathāgatagarbha will give birth to the mind consciousness to satisfy the manas's intent, and thus the mind consciousness arises in anger and erupts. When the manas wants to act, it inevitably has the mind consciousness help Him act, because the manas has no helper and cannot act in certain dharmas, so it needs the mind consciousness to help itself act. Only then can the mind consciousness be born. The mind consciousness is the manas's spokesperson and tool, expressing the manas's inner voice on His behalf.

So how is the dharma of the mind consciousness becoming angry produced? It is because the manas has become angry and wants to vent it out, wants to reveal its angry attitude, and the tathāgatagarbha accordingly gives birth to the mind consciousness, using the mind consciousness to express the manas's fury. Then, after the mind consciousness is born, it gives rise to the mental activity of rage.

When the manas becomes angry, it is genuine anger; when only the mind consciousness is angry, it is feigned anger. The manas's genuine anger has various manifestations, for example, in facial expressions—flushed face and thickened neck; in verbal actions—harsh speech; in bodily posture—puffed up with rage or coming to blows. All of these are produced jointly by the mind consciousness and the body consciousness, acted out in compliance with the manas's mental activity, fully expressing the manas's mental activity. As for the mind consciousness being angry alone: this occurs when the mind consciousness, while discerning the sense objects, feels that the objects are somewhat unsatisfactory, but the manas feels it does not matter and the mind is very calm. This kind of anger has no force and will not lead to any serious actions; it is merely putting on a show.

However, after the anger, the reactions of the two differ, because their degree of awakening differs. The mind consciousness may immediately introspect, reflecting on these actions and deeds. The mind consciousness may feel that getting angry is wrong, and by thinking about why it is wrong, it can figure it out. Although the mind consciousness has figured it out, the manas has not yet understood, so in His mind He is still angry just the same, fuming with rage. The mind consciousness says: "Don't be angry, don't be angry; it was your own fault to begin with." Even when the mind consciousness says this, the manas still does not understand and remains angry as before. Sometimes the manas simply cannot control its urge to lash out and hit someone. The mind consciousness says: "Don't hit people; hitting people is bad." But the manas does not listen, and so while saying "don't hit people," He raises a hand and strikes. Therefore, even when the mind consciousness has grasped the principle and has rationality, it still may not be able to control the manas. Since He insists on erupting, the mind consciousness has no choice but to assist and comply with Him, having no option but to obey the commands of the manas, its master.

Our psychological activities are divided into the level of the mind consciousness and the level of the manas. The mind-consciousness level is passive and must obey the manas's will. If the mind-consciousness level is to become the master, it must influence the manas over, and the permeation must succeed; only then will the manas make the decision as master and comply with the mind consciousness's ideas. If the mind consciousness's permeation is unsuccessful, the manas will still erupt according to His own mental activity. Then no matter how the mind consciousness persuades, it is useless: tell Him not to be angry, and He is still very angry over there; tell Him not to do this, and He insists on doing it. Then there is no way out—the mind consciousness, having no alternative, goes and does it anyway. Saying one thing and doing another is precisely the manas refusing to heed the mind consciousness's opinion, stubbornly going His own way, unable to act according to what the mind consciousness says—the mental activities being inconsistent.