The Realization of Manas Gives Birth to Wisdom

Regarding the wisdom power of the manas, all the wisdom of the consciousness must settle upon the manas to be considered successful, to store seeds, and to be useful in future lives. Ultimately, the wisdom power of the manas plays the decisive role in all functions. For the manas to attain the fruition, from the first fruition to the fourth fruition, or to realize the mind, from the initial realization of the mind to Buddhahood, it is the wisdom of the manas that functions. The result of the wisdom of the consciousness is to endow the manas with wisdom, to turn the consciousness of the manas into wisdom, to fully possess great wisdom, and ultimately achieve Buddhahood.

The difference between the wisdom of the consciousness and the wisdom of the manas lies in the fact that the consciousness has the function of logical thinking, analysis, and reasoning, capable of relatively abstract thought. In contrast, the manas cannot engage in abstract thinking; it must be concrete, with scenarios, with images—the more direct perception (pratyaksa) the better, the more realistic the better. The manas has little capacity for analytical thinking and struggles with logical reasoning and judgment; this aspect relies on the consciousness. Other direct measurements can be entirely self-sufficient, though having the assistance of the consciousness is the best and fastest. Therefore, when there are images, graphics, or present scenarios and situations, the manas resonates more readily, the memory of the consciousness becomes more solid, and understanding becomes very easy—this is the principle. When the Six Sense Bases interact and function interchangeably, the manas replaces the consciousness and also replaces the five sense consciousnesses. The Śūraṅgama Sūtra describes Mahākāśyapa’s perfect clarity and awareness “not arising from mental thought,” illustrating this principle.