Whose Mental Formation Is Manifested by Consciousness Instigated by Manas?

When the manifestation of consciousness is autonomous and voluntary, its mental activity belongs to the mental activity of the manas that controls it. When the mental activity manifested by the manas is instigated by a powerful consciousness, it still does not belong to the manas but to the mental activity of consciousness. Although the manas is in charge, it is forced rather than acting autonomously. For instance, if parents incite a child to steal, the child, being too young to assert independence or resist, has no choice but to obey. In this case, the act of stealing reflects the parents’ greedy nature, and the stolen items belong to and are controlled by the parents. Similarly, if a master orders a dog to take something from a neighbor, the theft is attributed to the master’s thieving intent, not the dog’s, because the dog lacks autonomy and must obey its master. The stolen goods belong to the master, not the dog. However, if the dog steals alone without the master’s instigation, the goods belong to the dog, indicating that the dog itself possesses a thieving intent.

For example, when a person chops firewood with a knife, it is the person who chops the wood, not the knife. Although the knife physically cuts the wood, the knife has no intent to chop; thus, the wood belongs to the owner, not the knife. Similarly, if a driver hits someone with a car, it is the driver who caused the accident, not the car. The driver must compensate for the damages, while the car cannot. Another example: if a master orders a servant to carry water or forge gold objects, promising payment only upon task completion, the water carried and the gold objects forged belong to the master. These tasks are performed by the servant on behalf of the master, and thus the master bears responsibility.

The servant sustains the master, so naturally, the master must reward the servant. Similarly, the manas sustains consciousness, so naturally, it must provide consciousness with certain principles. Ultimately, merits and faults are borne by the master and the manas. The karmic causes and effects across the Five Aggregates over lifetimes must still be endured by the manas. Consciousness simply brushes off and leaves, while the results are all processed and shouldered by the manas. Ascending to heaven or descending into hell is guided by the manas leading the eighth consciousness. Becoming a Buddha or a patriarch is also directed by the manas leading the eighth consciousness, along with the Five Aggregates and six consciousnesses—the entire family, including the major and minor members, advancing together to Buddhahood or patriarch status.