The Process of Manas Transforming from Ignorance to Illumination

When the manas knows, that is realization; when the manas realizes, it knows how to act. It is precisely because the manas does not know that it is called ignorance; eliminating the manas's not-knowing is called enlightenment. Once the manas is enlightened, it performs enlightened deeds and no longer does foolish things.

But no matter what the mind consciousness knows, it is useless, because the manas does not know. When the manas is unable to act in accordance with the mind consciousness's knowing, this is called "being able to say it but not do it." The mind consciousness knows that smoking is harmful to health, but the manas does not know, so it decides to keep smoking regardless. The mind consciousness knows that committing unwholesome karma brings unwholesome retribution, but the manas does not know, so it decides to continue committing unwholesome karma. The mind consciousness knows that there is a tathāgatagarbha, but the manas does not know, and that is why it decides to find the tathāgatagarbha, thus working day and night, forgetting food and sleep.