The Function of the Dharma Principle of the Manas

The Buddhist doctrine of eradicating the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi) and the doctrine of the manas are of tremendous benefit to Buddhism and to humanity; psychologists and sociologists can derive great benefit from them. Once they understand the principle of the manas, or in other words 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 can also benefit: by knowing themselves and knowing others, they can grasp the other party's psychology and guide it along its natural inclination, and the sale will succeed. Every trade and profession can benefit from psychology—that is, from the doctrine of the subconscious manas. What success studies calls "dialoguing with oneself" is precisely the mind consciousness perfuming and guiding the manas, subduing the self.

The problem of psychological disorders is entirely a problem of the manas and the mind consciousness; schizophrenia is also a problem of the manas and the mind consciousness. When one dialogues with oneself and the two selves cannot carry the conversation through, a split occurs. The fundamental problem of schizophrenia is that the thoughts and views of the manas and the mind consciousness are not unified and their values are inconsistent—the mind consciousness cannot persuade the manas to adapt to this society. At times the mind consciousness itself has not even understood where the problem lies, and then it is even less able to effectively persuade and guide the manas. If one truly cannot fit in with this society, walks into a blind alley and a dead end from which one cannot emerge, and one's thoughts and views are bound up and cannot be opened up, then the mind splits. If one can clearly understand the problems of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha) 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.