Is human muscle activity that of mind consciousness or that of manas?

Question: The manas directly regulates a person's nervous system, and the nervous system in turn directly controls a person's muscle contractions. From this it can be seen that the direct operator regulating the body's muscular activity is the seventh consciousness, not the sixth consciousness. If that is so, why is it said that bodily conduct is the function of the mind consciousness?

Answer: Muscular activity belongs to the activity of the nervous system; it is a reaction that occurs after the brain's central nervous system issues commands. The brain's central nervous system is regulated by the manas. As soon as the manas makes its choice, the cerebral cortex moves, the central nervous system issues commands, and these are transmitted to the corresponding nerves of the body, producing the phenomenon of muscle contraction. Although bodily, verbal, and mental actions are directed and commanded by the manas, the specific operations must all be carried out jointly by the mind consciousness and the five sense consciousnesses. If the six consciousnesses cannot arise normally, the body cannot function.

Although the contraction and relaxation of the nervous system are both regulated by the manas and are subconscious behaviors, they are very hidden and very subtle. This includes breathing: there is a part in which consciousness participates, and a large part that does not require consciousness's participation. The movement of the body, without consciousness, cannot be accomplished no matter what; subtle nervous system activities can occur without consciousness, such as the twitching of the body after falling asleep, the fluttering of the eyelids, and slight bodily movements—these can occur without consciousness. Slight breathing can also occur without consciousness, but consciousness can actively regulate breathing, such as deep breathing and so on.

The muscular and neural activities closely connected with the physical body can be regulated by the manas alone, without the cooperation of consciousness; consciousness may also participate, but it can only guide the manas and cannot command the whole body, because the manas alone can control the central nervous system, issuing commands there, and those instructions can be transmitted throughout the body. Neural activity in which consciousness participates is called conscious behavior; that in which consciousness does not participate is called unconscious behavior. For example, breathing activity, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, incontinence of urine and feces, gastrointestinal peristalsis, the circulation of qi and blood, and some special emotional activities—such as being so frightened that the heart pounds and the flesh trembles, hair bristling with rage, or being scared out of one's wits—can all occur without consciousness's participation; the manas alone can accomplish them. But the motor activities of the body root must have the body consciousness and the mind consciousness operating and regulating together with the manas.