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Transforming Manas: From Attachment to Self to the Wisdom of Equality
The six consciousnesses arise from the six sense bases – the eyes give rise to eye consciousness, the ears give rise to ear consciousness, the nose gives rise to nose consciousness, the tongue gives rise to tongue consciousness, the body gives rise to body consciousness, and the mind gives rise to mind consciousness (mano-vijñāna). Each consciousness needs a base to manifest: the eyes for eye consciousness, the ears for ear consciousness… and the base for mind consciousness is manas (the mind), which is different from mind consciousness (mano-vijñāna) and plays a central role in Manifestation-only Buddhist psychology.
Manas has two main functions:
- It is the condition of immediate continuity – that is, the previous moment of consciousness serves as the foundation for the next moment of consciousness, ensuring continuity.
-
It is the defiled foundation for the six consciousnesses, because manas is always associated with four afflictive mental formations:
- View of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi)
- Pride of self (ātma-māna)
- Attachment to self (ātma-śneha)
- Ignorance of self (ātma-avidyā)
When manas is transformed, these four afflictions become the wisdom of equality, bringing about insight and liberation.
