Is the Function of the Five Skandhas Primarily Governed by Manas or Vijñāna?

The "obscuration" in the aggregate of consciousness refers to the meaning of covering and concealing. Not only do the six consciousnesses obscure the true functions of the eighth consciousness, but the seventh consciousness also obscures the functions of the eighth consciousness. The key point is what is being obscured and whose inability to recognize the function of the true master is being concealed. The functions of the six consciousnesses obscure the functions of the eighth consciousness, causing the manas to perceive the functions of the six consciousnesses as so real that it fails to see they are all functions of the eighth consciousness. This leads the manas to develop illusions, consequently clinging to the aggregates of feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness of the six consciousnesses as the self, and regarding them as real.

However, does the manas also cling to its own nature of grasping, dominance, clinging, and attachment as the self, considering it real? This depends on whether the manas has the ability to introspect and observe its own functions. The Buddha stated that all eight consciousnesses possess the self-witnessing portion, each having the capacity for introspection, albeit to varying degrees, and whether the conscious mind can analyze these introspective capacities. Why must it be discovered by the conscious mind? Because the conscious mind serves the manas and the five aggregates of the body; it handles matters related to the five aggregates effectively. The manas operates covertly from behind, directing and manipulating in the shadows, while the conscious mind functions overtly to execute tasks. If the conscious mind is unaware of the situation, it cannot assist the manas in handling affairs. Therefore, many people can only observe the functions of their own conscious mind, prioritizing its role, regarding the functions of the conscious mind as their true functions, and not considering the functions of the manas as the most primary and important. Consequently, phenomena that the conscious mind does not understand or observe, many people refuse to acknowledge their existence and adamantly deny them.

The manas also possesses the introspective ability of the self-witnessing portion, enabling it to observe its own functions, regardless of whether the conscious mind can perceive this point or acknowledge it. Moreover, the manas regards these functions as real and clings to them, unaware that they are all functions of the eighth consciousness. Only after genuinely realizing the mind and attaining enlightenment does the manas suddenly realize the truth—that this is not the case. Therefore, the severing of the view of self, the realization of the mind's nature, the attainment of any fruition, or the understanding of any truth are all achieved and comprehended jointly by the manas and the conscious mind. This is extremely important.