What is the Purpose of Consciousness in Relation to Manas?

Both the five consciousnesses and the five aggregates are essential tools that the manas must utilize. Without these tools, the manas itself is powerless in the worldly realm; it requires the six consciousnesses and the five aggregates to serve it, utilizing them to cling to all phenomena in the world. Without the six consciousnesses and the five aggregates, the manas is helpless.

Therefore, while the manas can perceive many phenomena, it necessarily requires the consciousness to process them. For instance, when ghosts or spirits appear nearby, the manas perceives it as frightening, fearing a threat to itself, yet it cannot deal with them directly nor retreat alone. Thus, while one's hair stands on end, the alert consciousness becomes aware of the situation. The consciousness wonders: What exactly is happening? Why do I feel afraid? Does something eerie lurk in the surroundings? When the consciousness is sharp, it may reflect and realize that ghosts or spirits are present, then devise a way to withdraw. In this way, the manas achieves its aim.

Hence, although the manas possesses perception, matters require the consciousness and the five aggregates to carry them out. After the manas attains realization of the Dharma, the pure conduct of body, speech, and mind must be upheld by the consciousness and the five aggregates. Thus, the pure bodily, verbal, and mental actions of the six consciousnesses reflect the purity of the manas. However, upon reaching a sufficiently high level of cultivation, after mastering the four dhyanas and eight samadhis, and possessing immeasurable spiritual powers and abilities, the manas can substitute for the six consciousnesses. At this stage, there is no need for the six consciousnesses to manifest; all affairs are handled by the manas itself, with great speed and convenience. Therefore, the function and status of the consciousness cannot compare to that of the manas. The relationship between them is eternally that of master and servant. The master employs the servant to manage trivial matters, but when the master possesses great capability—fully equipped with modern automation—the servant becomes unnecessary, as the master can handle everything excellently and ingeniously.