How Does the Protective Mechanism of the Manas Operate?

When iron filings fly toward the eyes, they are blocked by the rapid, reflexive closing of the eyelids, so the flying iron filings are kept out and the eyes are unharmed. Emergency eye-closing and rapid blinking are behaviors swiftly decided and directed by the manas. The manas is truly inconceivable: it stands at the forefront in protecting the physical body. Without such a protective mechanism, it would be hard to say how long each five-aggregate body could actually survive.

Although we should thank the manas for this, what deserves the most gratitude is still the tathāgatagarbha. The rapid repair of an injured body is entirely the result of the tathāgatagarbha allocating and deploying the seeds of the four great elements. Without the tathāgatagarbha, no thought of the manas could accomplish anything—let alone protecting the physical body or restoring it to health; that would be impossible. Therefore, the tathāgatagarbha is the most worthy of respect and love, being selfless and without any notion of self. The manas relies on and cherishes the various functions of the tathāgatagarbha; depending on the tathāgatagarbha's protection, it gives orders imperiously, yet believes it is all its own achievement.