Why Can a Defiled Manas Only Give Rise to Defiled First Six Consciousnesses?

The first six consciousnesses arise based on the volition (the mental factor of intention) of the manas, manifesting what the manas requires; whatever the manas needs, the six consciousnesses emerge to perform accordingly. Therefore, when the manas is defiled, the six consciousnesses will consequently engage in defiled karmic actions, while when the manas is pure, the six consciousnesses will consequently engage in pure karmic actions. According to the fundamental cause of sentient beings' cyclic existence in birth and death as revealed by the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, it is because the manas possesses ignorance that actions conditioned by the ignorance of the manas arise. Conditioned by the ignorant actions of the manas, the ignorant bodily, verbal, and mental actions of the six consciousnesses arise. All bodily, verbal, and mental actions are imprinted onto the ālayavijñāna, becoming seeds.

The actions of the manas refer to its volitional choices. After the manas makes a choice, the six consciousnesses arise to assist the manas in performing actions. Therefore, if the manas is defiled and ignorant, the six consciousnesses, as its assistants, must aid the manas in carrying out defiled karmic actions. However, even if the manas is defiled, when it does not choose defiled actions, the mental consciousness can rely on its own purity to influence the manas, and the manas may permit the pure actions of the mental consciousness, thereby generating pure karmic actions. Thus, spiritual practice involves cultivating wholesome dharmas and using these wholesome dharmas to influence the manas, thereby eradicating the ignorance of the manas and transforming it. When the mind becomes pure, pure karmic results will be experienced in the future.