The Special Function of the Manas in the Absence of Mind Consciousness

When the recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti) penetrates deep into the manas and transforms the manas's thinking, one can still recollect the Buddha even while sleeping. When investigating Chan gives rise to questioning doubt in the manas, one continues investigating Chan even while asleep, and sleeps restlessly. Because the problem has not been resolved, the manas regards it as extremely important and continues deliberation (manana) even after falling asleep; the moment one wakes and opens one's eyes, the mind consciousness suddenly understands—the problem is solved.

Hand over the dharmas that the mind consciousness has not yet comprehended to the manas, and let the manas hold them in deep questioning doubt and deliberation, while the mind consciousness does whatever it needs to do. At some unknown point, the manas resolves the questioning doubt, and the mind consciousness suddenly understands—a sudden great awakening.

Regarding the Buddhadharma, the manas uses the mind consciousness to learn the knowledge and theories of the Buddhadharma; afterwards, the manas digests and absorbs them based on this learned theoretical knowledge, which is like a cow ruminating while resting. Many people rely solely on the mind consciousness to study everywhere and collect vast amounts of knowledge, then output it again, never knowing how to let the manas absorb and digest it so that it becomes the nourishment they need and turns into their own genuine wisdom. The patriarchs said that when a person without realization expounds the Dharma, it is merely Dharma that enters through the ears and exits through the mouth, or Dharma based on emotional speculation and intellectual interpretation. Such a person has not even benefited themselves, let alone others.