The Feeling of the Mind Faculty

The manas does not have only neutral feeling (upekṣā-vedanā); it also has feelings of suffering and happiness. Because the manas has ignorance and afflictions, and has wholesome and unwholesome mental factors, it necessarily has feelings of suffering and happiness, and due to these feelings of suffering and happiness, afflictions of greed and aversion arise. If the manas had only neutral feeling, it would be indifferent to being beaten, scolded, bullied, or humiliated. Although the mind consciousness might feel upset for a while, it would soon pass, and there would be no acts of retaliation—this is the fine moral cultivation of a great practitioner, which ordinary people simply do not possess. If the manas had only neutral feeling, it would be indifferent even when praised and exalted to the heavens; it would remain unmoved in the face of power, sensual pleasures, fame, and gain, would not chase after power, sensual pleasures, fame, or gain, and would be indifferent to wealth and honor. Although the mind consciousness might like these things, it would merely have a slight liking for them, without taking any action or putting anything into practice. This is the virtuous cultivation of a great practitioner, which ordinary people simply would not have.