The Source of Consciousness Kleshas

The manas is the co-arising dependence for the birth of consciousness, and it is also the basis upon which the consciousness becomes defiled or purified. Consciousness arises after the manas comes into contact with mental objects and the manas makes choices and initiates actions. From where do the afflictions of consciousness originate? One source is the regulation and permeation by the manas, while another source arises from the permeation of the surrounding defiled environment.

How does the manas regulate and permeate consciousness? When the manas contacts the six sense objects, it can roughly determine that the objects are undesirable. The manas first gives rise to afflictions inwardly and seeks to counteract the sense objects, whereupon consciousness is born. Following the instructions of the manas, consciousness discriminates the present mental objects. When bodily and verbal actions are taken, they carry afflictions, rendering the body and speech defiled. This is the result of consciousness being regulated by the manas. The meaning of permeation is that whenever the afflictions of the manas arise, they permeate consciousness. Gradually permeated, consciousness develops the same afflictions as the manas. For instance, when an infant is first born, consciousness has no afflictions. Over time, the innate afflictions of the manas influence the mental activities of consciousness, causing consciousness to increasingly align with the afflictions of the manas. This is being permeated by the manas. Only when consciousness attains awakening can it reduce some afflictions and, in turn, control the afflictions of the manas.

The second source of afflictions in consciousness is the permeation from sense objects. By constantly dwelling among people with various afflictions and undergoing daily cumulative permeation, afflictions arise in the mind. The afflictions of consciousness then permeate the manas in return, causing the manas to develop the same afflictions. Once the manas has severed afflictions, it becomes difficult to permeate. Even if afflictions occasionally arise, they are temporary afflictions of consciousness and will dissipate afterward, not persisting for long.