The Wax and Wane of Wisdom Between Consciousness and Manas

During the student's learning phase, which is a period of absorbing theoretical knowledge, consciousness is predominantly utilized. After learning concludes, the practice phase begins, where theory is applied to practical operations, relying entirely on the individual's genuine ability and practical execution. At this stage, manas is predominantly employed. If manas is not used effectively, one risks being ridiculed as a bookworm or pedant—possessing knowledge but no practical skill, lacking substance, rendering one's learning useless.

When students solve geometry problems, they clearly rely on conscious reasoning, as there are results and answers to work toward; one simply needs to deduce toward the answer. A few students with strong concentration may employ a small degree of manas' function of deliberation, but this is not extensive. If a problem lacks a provided answer, the use of manas' deliberation might increase, and arriving at a correct conclusion could demonstrate a student's genuine wisdom. However, it is also possible that conscious reasoning plays a larger role. During the process of deducing and reasoning through geometry problems, there are certain principles and rules to follow. The more one relies on these, the greater the role of consciousness, the smaller the role of manas, and the shallower the wisdom.

Similarly, during the process of contemplation and investigation, the more hints others provide, the more consciousness is used, the less manas is employed, and the shallower the wisdom becomes. If one relies entirely on others' hints, receiving information orally and processing it aurally, it is purely the function of consciousness; manas exerts no effort whatsoever. Consequently, manas gains no wisdom, and one attains no liberating merit or benefit in this life or future lives. Conversely, when one investigates and resolves something entirely on one's own, without any hints, the function employed is optimal, and the wisdom is deepest. On the contrary, the more help others provide, the smaller one's own ability becomes. Solving a problem without any help means all the wisdom gained is one's own. A Pratyekabuddha, contemplating the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination alone on a mountain, attained wisdom before and after realizing the Dharma that an Arhat cannot compare to, let alone an ordinary person. Arhats have the Buddha and the Dharma to rely upon; their wisdom development is limited and not as profound and subtle as that of a Pratyekabuddha.

The more one relies on external conditions, the less manas is used, and the weaker one's ability and wisdom become. Some people, when studying the Dharma, always pray for various kinds of help, unaware that the more help they receive, the less wisdom they develop, and the smaller their benefit. When encountering problems, being able to apply effort oneself, to use one's brain, yields the greatest wisdom. Those who always like to ask others about the Dharma tend to have shallower wisdom, insufficient self-reliance, and lack the ability to solve problems independently. Some people constantly seek others' help to attain enlightenment. But whose enlightenment is it then? Whose wisdom is it? Whether it is wisdom in the Buddha Dharma or worldly wisdom, it is attained by whoever relies on their own effort. Relying on others is inferior to relying on oneself.