The Unique Mental-Factor Functions of the Manas

When one enters meditative concentration (dhyāna) from contemplation, in deep meditative concentration it appears on the surface that there are no thoughts, no thinking, no deliberation. In reality, although the mind consciousness no longer has thoughts and deliberations, the manas is still engaged and deliberating (manana); its deliberation has never ceased, and thoughts have never been cut off. Therefore the manas is called the consciousness of continual scrutiny and deliberation—it is only that the mind consciousness lacks sufficient wisdom to observe this. Thus, things that the mind consciousness does not know, dharmas it cannot observe, do not mean that they do not exist.

The manas has its unique function in the operation of all dharmas. That the mind consciousness cannot observe it does not mean the manas has no function and no operation. In investigating Chan, in meditative concentration, in sleep, in a coma—all the functions the manas performs, the operation of the manas's mental factors (caittas)—although the mind consciousness is temporarily unable to observe them, one must by no means deny all the functions and roles of the manas. In the future, when one possesses the seed wisdom of Consciousness-Only, one will be able to directly perceive the manas's operations and mental activities.

From this it can be seen that the wisdom of an ordinary being and the wisdom of the seed wisdom of Consciousness-Only are separated by an immense distance. Some of us are severely lacking in meditative concentration and wisdom. Regarding the manas's mental factors that we cannot understand or observe, we should not declare that they exist or do not exist, should not say yes or no; to remain silent and harbor doubt in the mind is what the wise do. For dharmas that one currently lacks the ability to observe and discern, not drawing conclusions lightly means one will not lightly commit the karma of slander, and will not set up obstacles for one's own cultivation of the Path—this is the choice of a wise person. The Buddha frequently admonished bodhisattvas that they should hear the profound without terror, hear the profound without slandering, and should abide in patient acceptance of the profound meaning of the Dharma.

The marvelous functions of the manas are extremely numerous, far exceeding our current thinking and imagination. As long as we do not cling stubbornly to shallow personal views and are not confined by fixed, limited theories, it will be possible in the future to observe more of the manas's functions. In fact, the ultimate point of learning Buddhism and cultivating practice is to fully develop and observe all the functions of the manas and the eighth consciousness; only after fully realizing them all can one become a Buddha. Once all the dharmas of the manas and the eighth consciousness have been explored and realized, there is nothing left to cultivate, and one has reached the stage of being beyond training (aśaikṣa) of the Great Vehicle.