How to Maximize the Function of the Manas?

Blind people have exceptionally sensitive ears, deaf-mute people have exceptionally sensitive eyes; those with poor language ability often have strong hands-on skills, while those who can talk often cannot do; animals have poor deliberative capacity but exceptionally keen intuition. Why is all this so?

People with extraordinary brains and people with special talents share a common trait. For example, painters, musicians, artists of all kinds, and scientists—anyone who can become a "master" of some field—their common trait is that they themselves have some defect or defects, differing from worldly people: either a physiological defect or a psychological defect. They are somewhat at a loss in worldly life, out of harmony with worldly people, and their conduct often goes against convention and common sense. Why is this so?

One master switch controls seven faucets. Close one faucet, and the flow of the other six increases; close two, and the flow of the other five increases further; close three, and the flow of the other four increases again; close six, leaving one faucet, and its flow is the greatest, its force fierce.

The six faculties follow the same principle. Close the eye faculty, and the functions of the other five faculties increase; then close the ear faculty, and the functions of the other four faculties increase; then close the tongue faculty and the nose faculty, and the functions of the body faculty and the manas increase; finally, close the body faculty, and the manas has the greatest function. If the manas is closed as well, then there is nirvāṇa—no more water flows.