Why Does Manas Not Correspond to Language, Written Words, and Sounds?

Language, writing, and sound—the operation of these dharmas—cannot function without the body faculty and body consciousness. They arise from the combined operation of body consciousness and mental consciousness, representing the functional activity of the five sense-consciousnesses associated with mental consciousness. The emergence of language and sound originates first from the intention generated by the mental faculty (manas), which seeks to express one's thoughts and ideas. When the mental faculty generates a thought, brain waves fluctuate, and the intention is transmitted via the central nervous system to the corresponding system or area associated with the body faculty. This causes wind or an air current to arise in the dantian region. This air current surges upward, reaching the root of the tongue, where the sound stream emerges, thereby forming language and sound.

Therefore, speaking requires energy. If energy is insufficient, the voice becomes weak, or no sound can be produced at all. Language and sound are produced through the combined and harmonious operation of mental consciousness and body consciousness, requiring the cooperation of the body faculty. The tongue, as part of the body faculty at this time, does not function to perceive tactile or taste objects. Regarding writing, whether handwriting or typing, it is produced through the combined and harmonious operation of mental consciousness and body consciousness, requiring the cooperation of the body faculty. Isolated mental consciousness can have internal voices, and mental text-images can also appear within the mind. When isolated mental consciousness introspects, it can perceive its own inner voice and mental text-images.

The above pertains to the verbal and mental formations of the six consciousnesses, as well as bodily formations. Bodily formations can only be completed through the combined and harmonious operation of mental consciousness and the five sense-consciousnesses, requiring the cooperation of the five sense faculties. Without the five sense faculties, the operation of bodily formations cannot be accomplished. The creation of bodily, verbal, and mental formations by the six consciousnesses is instigated by the mental faculty; it is the function of the mental faculty's intention. The mental faculty is like a commander, while the six consciousnesses are the executors of the commands. When the commander generates an intention, brain waves transmit the signal. Once the command is issued, the entire nervous system activates and operates.

The intention of the mental faculty is like a signal or code, which mental consciousness can partially or mostly understand. Without sufficient wisdom, it cannot be fully understood. When the six consciousnesses execute the command and carry out the specific operation, language, writing, and sound then appear; this is the functional activity of the operating system. The command system operates only in the form of codes and signals, requiring no cooperation from the five sense faculties, thus completing the mental formation of the mental faculty. Without the cooperation of the five sense faculties, text, language, and sound, of course, cannot appear.

When isolated mental consciousness departs from the material body, without the cooperation of the five sense faculties, there is similarly no text, language, or sound—one cannot speak or write. Mental thoughts are also similar to code or cipher-like things, but mental consciousness itself fully understands them. Once understood, with the cooperation of the five sense faculties, they can be expressed as text, language, and sound. If mental consciousness understands the mental thoughts of the mental faculty, it can similarly express them using text, language, and sound. Therefore, text, language, and sound are tools for expressing mental thoughts. The mental faculty cannot express itself in this way; it can only express through mental consciousness and the five sense-consciousnesses, except when supernatural powers are present.

The codes and ciphers of the eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna) can only be understood when the sixth and seventh consciousnesses transform into wisdom and attain a considerable degree of the wisdom of the path (mārga-jñāna). Before this, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are unable to decipher them. However, they can still enjoy the benefits and provisions bestowed by the eighth consciousness, yet they remain unaware of this enjoyment, mistakenly believing that these benefits were obtained through their own efforts or that they are naturally entitled to them. Codes require wisdom to decipher; without wisdom, one's attempts become clumsy and counterproductive. Codes and ciphers are metaphors used to illustrate the form of mental thoughts; there are no actual codes or ciphers.