How to Reverse the Restless Habits of the Manas

The scatteredness of the mind consciousness and the appearance of the solitary mental consciousness are brought about by the manas; if the manas is not scattered, the mind consciousness simply cannot become scattered. If the manas does not dwell on people and events of the past, the mind consciousness cannot recall people and events of the past. How can one subdue the scatteredness and grasping of the manas? The mind consciousness must first awaken and first understand the principles, and must be able to detect in which areas the manas has habitual tendencies of grasping and what dharmas it likes to grasp at; then analyze the impermanent nature of arising, ceasing, and change of these dharmas, letting the manas know that delusive thinking is of no use and how constant grasping everywhere is detrimental. Then, one should repeatedly draw the manas to concentrate on a single dharma, in order to reverse the manas's habitual tendency of scatteredness. Gradually the manas will no longer grasp at things, delusive thoughts will diminish, and the mind will settle into concentration.