The Nimble Nature of the Manas

Whenever we are pleasantly surprised, astonished, terrified, or shocked, or when we rack our brains without paying attention, the mind consciousness is unable to think and deliberate—there is simply nothing it can do. Yet within the manas, mental activity moves very swiftly, and its power of deliberation (manana) is very strong. In the end, without relying on the analysis, thinking, and observation of the mind consciousness, it too comes up with a way to respond, thus averting a calamity and escaping from danger. We usually say that a certain person is very quick-witted and reacts very fast. Observe and see: is it the mind consciousness that is quick-witted and fast to react, or the manas, or are both quick-witted and fast to react? This depends on the specific circumstances. An immediate reaction, with no time to think, is the quick wit of the manas; a reaction that allows for a little deliberation is the quick wit of the mind consciousness. When the mind consciousness is quick-witted, in most cases the manas is also quick-witted. When we are spacing out, the mind consciousness is spacing out, but the manas absolutely never spaces out—there is never a time when the manas is blank and fails to deliberate. If you space out more often and experience it for yourself, you will know this.