How to Observe and Subdue the Conceptualized Nature of Manas

The pervasive conceptualizing and grasping nature of the manas is its universal tendency to calculate, cling to, and grasp all dharmas without interruption, constantly clinging to all dharmas manifested by the eighth consciousness, relying on the eighth consciousness to cognize all dharmas it manifests. Moment by moment, it remains in a state of knowing, unwilling to relinquish any dharma. It adheres persistently to every dharma it contacts—past dharmas, present dharmas, and future dharmas all cling incessantly in the mind. Thoughts flow continuously without cease; not a single dharma is left un-thought, not a single dharma is left un-adhered to, not a single dharma is left un-attached to. This is the pervasive conceptualizing and grasping nature of the manas. Because the manas possesses this characteristic, it causes the mind to become tangled like hemp, scattered like a monkey, with thoughts ceaselessly arising. Thus, it lacks meditative stability, cannot concentrate, and expends immense time and energy on meaningless dharmas, preventing wisdom from increasing.

If you have a way to observe these thoughts of the manas, you will realize what dharmas the manas is clinging to and grasping. Then, you will have a method to counteract and subdue the pervasive conceptualizing and grasping nature of the manas, thereby enabling you to concentrate your mind and enhance the power of concentration and wisdom. How does one observe the pervasive conceptualizing and grasping nature of the manas and its thoughts? First, observe the realms and mental states that appear in dreams. Observe whether these realms and thoughts are orderly or chaotic and unfocused. If you can observe the focal point to which the realms point and the thoughts arising from the manas, you will know what the manas is clinging to and focusing on, as well as the issues present in the mind.

Second, immediately upon waking, observe what your thoughts are and what your emotional state is like. These thoughts all belong to the manas, not to the conscious mind (mano-vijñāna), because the conscious mind has just arisen and has not yet had time to generate any thoughts or emotions. Third, during meditation, observe the thoughts that come and go. In meditation, the conscious mind has already become still and free of thoughts, yet within the mind, there are still some thoughts that do not cease—flickering, dimming, lightening, and weighing down, constantly appearing, arising and ceasing, ceasing and arising. These thoughts all belong to the manas. In all circumstances, the thoughts in the mind are scattered, lacking stability. Most are unimportant and meaningless. From this, one can understand and observe the pervasive conceptualizing and grasping nature of the manas. Due to this pervasive conceptualizing and grasping nature, since beginningless kalpas, we have consumed and wasted immense energy without attaining the wholesome results we should have obtained. Such pervasive clinging everywhere truly yields losses that outweigh gains.

How can one curb and reduce the pervasive conceptualizing and grasping nature of the manas? One must avoid contact with meaningless, useless people, affairs, objects, and principles. Minimize exposure to various realms. Strive to shield oneself from the rotten people, rotten affairs, and entangled interpersonal matters of the world. Know as few dharmas as possible; if possible, know nothing at all. Those people and affairs hold no significance; they merely waste time and energy, leaving impure thoughts in the mind. One must continuously focus the mind on a meaningful dharma, concentrate on this dharma without wavering, without interruption, and without mixing in other things. Take this dharma as the main thread. Over time, with sustained effort, the miscellaneous thoughts in the mind will lessen, the scattered mind will be subdued, the mind will become stable, energy will become concentrated and vigorous, and wisdom will increase.