The Feeling of the Manas

The manas does not only have neutral feeling; it also has painful and pleasant feelings. Because the manas has ignorance and afflictions, and has wholesome and unwholesome mental factors, it must have painful and pleasant feelings, and due to these painful and pleasant feelings, afflictions of greed and hatred arise. If the manas had only neutral feeling, it would be unmoved when being beaten, scolded, 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 unmoved when being praised and exalted to the skies; it would remain unmoved in the face of power, sensual allure, fame, and profit, would not chase after them, and would be indifferent to riches and honor. Although the mind consciousness might perhaps take delight in 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; ordinary people would simply never be like this.