The Deliberation of the Manas Is Hidden and Profound

The parts that the mind consciousness has already known do not need to be thought about again; rather, the manas needs to deliberate (manasikāra) on them silently by itself. The manas's way of deliberating is very special, different from the thinking of the mind consciousness. What is meant by "special" is that the deliberative nature and deliberative manner of the manas are extremely difficult for the mind consciousness to observe, so many people simply deny that the manas has any thinking or cognitive activity, denying that the manas has any mental activity at all. These people are far too reckless and hasty, far too self-confident.

When there is no speech and the mind is silent, the mind consciousness is no longer thinking, yet the manas is working, never having stopped. The mind consciousness can frequently cease its thinking activity and enter states of rest and sleep, but the manas never rests; it continuously and unceasingly deliberates on all kinds of issues, in a very hidden manner. When the manas deliberates, it is very deep and hard to observe; it can consume the brain's energy and cause neural fluctuations of brain waves.

Therefore, when a person is not speaking or analyzing, we must never assume that this person has no thoughts, no views, no ideas, that the mental activity has stopped and all is quiet. It is not so: his manas is rapidly turning and operating, deliberating, weighing, and verifying, very deeply and very secretly. Afterwards, there arises in his mind a settled rule, an idea, a position, a decision—but he does not necessarily have to say it out, does not necessarily have to express it, does not necessarily have to let others know. Yet there is indeed strength in his mind, and his attitude becomes resolute, even unshakable.

Whereas when the mind consciousness, through thinking, analysis, and reflection, arrives at a result and a decision, the mind is not very firm; there is still hesitation and indecision, unable to make up one's mind—because the manas does not know or understand, there must be doubt in the mind, and naturally one cannot make up one's mind.