How to Train the Manas to Think and Solve Problems

When encountering problems, do not rush to immediately use the conscious mind to analyze and draw conclusions. If the matter is not particularly urgent, calm the mind, strive to eliminate distracting thoughts, focus solely on the current issue without conscious analysis, conscious reasoning, conscious judgment, and especially without conscious conclusions. Empty other thoughts and fixate on this problem without internal language, words, or inner voices. Quietly contemplate the issue—yet the mind is not vacant or neglecting the problem—rather, the mental faculty (Sanskrit: manas) silently suspends the matter within, subtly pondering it.

While the conscious mind refrains from analytical thought, the mental faculty confronts the problem, engaging in wordless and soundless contemplation. When lacking experience or when the mind is not finely attuned, one may not perceive the mental activity of the mental faculty, yet it indeed possesses immense psychological operations—merely obscured by the activities of consciousness. Some individuals possess a feeble mental faculty with weak thinking capacity because excessive fragmented thoughts scatter their energy, resulting in insufficient mental strength to concentrate on a single issue or to resolve a problem thoroughly, reasonably, and profoundly.

One significant reason sentient beings possess inferior and weak wisdom is the abundance of distracting thoughts, creating mental chaos without a clear central focus or priority. Like a combat team whose members act independently, scattering collective strength and failing to unite into a formidable force to courageously and successfully confront adversaries—resulting in defeat against every opposing force. Another crucial reason is deficient merit (puṇya), a severe shortage of blessedness without the support of virtuous karma—though this point shall not be elaborated here.

Therefore, to enhance wisdom—especially the wisdom of the mental faculty—one must eliminate distracting thoughts and develop the ability to concentrate mental energy on very few, crucial, and pivotal issues. To achieve this, one must suppress the conscious mind, use it sparingly, minimize its linguistic and auditory functions, avoid persistent inner voices, and refrain from constant internal monologue. Occasionally having conscious internal monologue is acceptable, but beyond that, there should also be focused contemplation by the mental faculty. While consciousness engages in monologue, the mental faculty simultaneously ponders—both should attend to the same matter. At this point, the energy of the mental faculty intensifies, concentration strengthens, enabling it to penetrate inner darkness and ignorance, uncover the root of the problem, and resolve it fundamentally.

When the mental faculty contemplates clearly, it can solve problems at their root. In contrast, issues resolved through conscious deliberation—even if seemingly addressed—remain incomplete, unstable, and unreliable; moreover, they are less likely to be truly resolved. Because the mental faculty is the fundamental cognitive faculty (āśraya-vijñāna), problems it resolves through its own thorough consideration leave no regret. Those who follow conscious analysis are prone to regret and easily change their views. Fickle individuals habitually rely on conscious thought rather than the mental faculty; they tend to be superficial. Indecisive individuals and those who depend on others are unaccustomed to contemplating with the mental faculty, instead habitually using consciousness—because their own consciousness is unreliable, forcing them to seek external reliance.

Although contemplating and resolving problems with the mental faculty is steady, reliable, thorough, and capable of striking at the root, it often proceeds slowly—because depth requires time, while superficiality is swift. Like digging a well: digging deep demands effort and is slow, while shallow digging requires little effort and is fast. Yet slow digging yields water, while fast digging produces none. Thus, slowness is swiftness, and swiftness is slowness—their effects differ. Therefore, one must not pursue speed but prioritize quality. Similarly, when contemplating and resolving problems, deep deliberation requires time, yet meticulous work yields perfect results. Habitual deep thinkers—those accustomed to using the mental faculty—generally think and act slowly but achieve superior outcomes, make fewer errors, and experience less regret.

To achieve effective results in solving problems, avoid haste. Engage in thorough deliberation, utilize the mental faculty extensively for contemplation and decision-making, and train its thinking capacity frequently. Practice wordless, soundless concentration and observation. With prolonged training, as the mental faculty becomes adept, one discovers that contemplating with it carries profound resonance and fascination—deeply compelling, making one reluctant to cease. Consequently, one grows fond of solitude, dislikes disturbance, and witnesses deepening wisdom and increasing proficiency in problem-solving. Once an individual's mental faculty is well-trained and habitually employed, they appear profoundly composed, rich in substance and distinctive qualities—possessing deep thoughts, unique insights, strong capabilities, and above all, steadfast reliability and trustworthiness without constant vacillation.