Is Human Muscle Activity Governed by Consciousness or Manas?

Question: Manas directly regulates the human nervous system, which in turn directly controls muscle contraction. This shows that the direct operator regulating human muscle activity is the seventh consciousness, not the sixth consciousness. If that is the case, why is bodily action said to be the function of consciousness?

Answer: Muscle activity belongs to nervous system activity, which is a response following the issuance of commands by the central nervous system of the brain. The central nervous system is regulated by manas. Once manas initiates a decision, the cerebral cortex activates, and the central nervous system issues commands that are transmitted to the corresponding nervous systems of the body, resulting in muscle contraction. Although bodily, verbal, and mental actions are primarily governed and directed by manas, their specific operations must be jointly completed by consciousness and the five sense consciousnesses. If the six consciousnesses cannot manifest normally, the body cannot function.

Although the contraction and relaxation of the nervous system are regulated by manas and are subconscious behaviors, they are very subtle and faint. This includes breathing, which involves some conscious participation, but a large part does not require consciousness. Bodily movement cannot be completed without consciousness under any circumstances. Subtle nervous system activities may not require consciousness, such as body twitches during sleep, eyelid twitching, slight bodily movements, and light breathing. However, consciousness can actively regulate breathing, such as deep breathing, etc.

Muscle and nerve activities closely connected to the physical body can be regulated by manas alone without the need for consciousness to cooperate, though consciousness may participate. Consciousness can only guide manas and cannot command the entire body, because manas alone can control the central nervous system, issuing commands there that can be transmitted throughout the body. Nervous activities involving consciousness are called conscious behaviors, while those not involving consciousness are called unconscious behaviors. For example, breathing activities, muscle contraction and relaxation, incontinence, gastrointestinal peristalsis, blood circulation, and some special emotional activities—such as heart pounding and flesh trembling, hair standing on end in anger, or being so frightened that one loses control of bodily functions—can all be completed by manas alone without consciousness participation. However, the movement activities of the body must be regulated and operated jointly by body consciousness, consciousness, and manas.