The Function of the Manas in Terms of Dharma Principles

The Buddhist doctrine of eliminating self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) and the doctrine of the manas bring immense benefit to Buddhism and to humanity alike; psychologists and sociologists can derive great benefit from them. Once they understand the principle of the manas—that is, the subconscious—they will be able to introspect, observe their own psychological phenomena, and thereby understand themselves, treat themselves correctly, and even change themselves, even though they do not yet understand the Buddha-dharma. Those engaged in corporate sales also benefit: by knowing themselves and knowing others, they can grasp the other party's psychology and guide it along the natural course of things, and thus their sales will succeed. Every trade and profession benefits from psychology—that is, from the doctrine of the subconscious manas. What is called in success studies "talking to oneself" is precisely the mind consciousness perfuming and guiding the manas, subduing the self.

Problems of psychological disorder are entirely problems of the manas and the mind consciousness; schizophrenia is likewise a problem of the manas and the mind consciousness. When one talks to oneself and the two selves cannot carry on the conversation, a split occurs. The fundamental problem of schizophrenia is that the views and ideas of the manas and the mind consciousness are not unified, that their values are not in accord: the mind consciousness cannot persuade the manas to conform to this society, and at times the mind consciousness itself has not understood where the problem lies, so it is even less able to effectively persuade and guide the manas. If one is truly at odds with this society, walks into a blind alley and a dead end from which one cannot emerge, and one's views and ideas become bound up and cannot be opened up, then the mind splits. If one can clarify the problems of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha) and of the manas and mind consciousness, and personally realize that all dharmas are empty, then no one will suffer from mental or psychological illnesses.