A Question for Reflection on the Distinction and Boundary Between Ordinary Beings and Sages

The manas is the defiled-and-pure basis (āśraya) of the six consciousnesses: when the manas is defiled, the six consciousnesses are necessarily defiled; when the manas is pure, the six consciousnesses are necessarily pure. So if the manas has not eradicated the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi), can the mind consciousness eradicate the view of self? If the manas has not severed the afflictive bond-and-fetters, such as the three fetters, can the mind consciousness eradicate the three fetters? Since the manas has not severed the three fetters, at the time of death it is drawn by karmic obstructions toward the hells to undergo retribution—where would the mind consciousness go at that moment? When the manas remains at the stage of an ordinary person's ignorance, can the mind consciousness alone become a sage of the first fruit (srotāpanna)? Would such a person be counted as an ordinary being or as a sage who has realized the fruit? Or should it be split into two and treated as divided? If someone has harmed oneself, and the manas is extremely obstinate in its clinging to self, insisting on carrying out retaliation, how should the mind consciousness deal with this matter? When the mind consciousness is clear-headed, understands the correct principle, and has already been habituated, it can reason with the manas and counter-habituate it, thereby suppressing and subduing the manas so that it does not retaliate or commit evil karma. But at the time of death and in the neutrino-body (antarā-bhava), when the power of the mind consciousness is weak, it can no longer draw along and persuade the manas. In a dream, can the mind consciousness guide and admonish the manas? If one cannot even maintain control of oneself in a dream, then at the time of death one will be even less able to maintain control of oneself. What is meant by "maintaining control"? It means that the mind consciousness understands the principle, subdues and rectifies the manas, and keeps the manas's direction well in hand. Clearly, at the time of death and in the neutrino-body (antarā-bhava), the mind consciousness has no way to maintain control of the manas; at that point the manas will be drawn along either by karmic power or by the power of vows, and will no longer follow the mind consciousness. So if one's practice stops at the stage of the mind consciousness and refuses to advance a single step further, is that not very dangerous and unreliable?