How Does the Protective Mechanism of the Manas Operate?

When iron filings fly toward the eyes, the eyes are rapidly shut by the swift closing of the eyelids, blocking the incoming iron filings, and the eyes are unharmed. The emergency closing and rapid shutting of the eyes are all behaviors swiftly decided and directed by the manas. The manas is truly inconceivable; it stands at the forefront in protecting the physical body. Without this protective mechanism of His, how long each five-aggregate body could actually survive would be hard to say.

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 protect the physical body or restore it to health—that would be impossible. Therefore, the tathāgatagarbha is the most venerable and lovable, selfless and without any notion of self. The manas loves the various functions of the tathāgatagarbha, and relying on the tathāgatagarbha's protection, it bosses things around imperiously, yet believes it is all its own accomplishment.