The Principle of Silent Recitation

The manas is the consciousness that takes charge; bodily, verbal, and mental actions are all regulated and directed by the manas. The same is true of silently reciting sutras and mantras in the mind: when the manas wants to recite silently, the mind consciousness recites in the mind without making a sound. Reciting aloud is also done by the mind consciousness—it is because the manas wants to recite that the mind consciousness recites. It is also possible that the mind consciousness wants to recite, and only when the manas deems it acceptable can the mind consciousness recite. In short, the matter of recitation is decided by the manas and carried out by the mind consciousness.

Why does the manas choose between reciting aloud and reciting silently? This decision is extremely hidden and difficult to observe. The mind consciousness always feels that it happens automatically, that it is just natural—this kind of feeling shows that the mind consciousness is very coarse and lacks meditative concentration, unable to observe the subtle and hidden aspects within. The manas makes the choice between reciting aloud and not reciting aloud based on the state of body and mind, based on whether the qi in the body is sufficient. When in meditative concentration, once the mind starts moving, one feels very tired; reciting aloud consumes a great deal of energy, and the mind consciousness feels tired, so the manas automatically chooses not to make a sound. When one has meditative concentration and the body is fatigued, one will also choose to recite silently in the mind. On the surface it seems automatic, but in fact it is because the manas relies on the eighth consciousness and knows the state of body and mind extremely quickly and closely, able to make decisions beneficial to body and mind very rapidly. Most people's mind consciousness is not aware of these matters.

Silent recitation can increase meditative concentration; or, after meditative concentration has strengthened, one can no longer recite aloud—reciting aloud feels mentally exhausting—so one automatically switches to silent recitation. When meditative concentration strengthens further, even silent recitation becomes tiring, so one switches to vajra recitation, moving only the lips without making a sound, with the voice in the mind also faint. When even vajra recitation feels forced, one switches to mindful recollection in the mind. When meditative concentration strengthens further, even mindful recollection is no longer possible, and one enters deep meditative concentration, without any thoughts or mental notions.