How to Train Manas for Thinking and Problem-Solving: A Guide to Manas Training

When encountering problems, do not rush to immediately use the conscious mind to deliberate, analyze, and draw conclusions. If the matter is not particularly urgent, calm the mind, strive to eliminate distracting thoughts, focus solely on the current issue without conscious analysis, conscious reasoning, conscious judgment, and especially without conscious conclusions. Empty other thoughts, fixate on this problem, avoid internal language or words, avoid inner voices, and silently fixate on the issue. Yet, the mind is not empty; it is not neglecting the problem. Rather, the manas (mind root) quietly suspends the issue within the heart, silently contemplating it.

The conscious mind does not engage in deliberation or analysis, yet the manas confronts the problem, thinking and pondering without language, words, or sound. When inexperienced or when the mind lacks subtlety, one may not perceive the mental activity of the manas. However, it indeed possesses immense mental activity, merely obscured by the activities of the conscious mind. For some, the manas is very weak in energy, and their thinking power is feeble. This is due to excessive, fragmented distracting thoughts that scatter their energy, leading to insufficient mental strength. They cannot concentrate on pondering a single issue nor perfectly, reasonably, or deeply resolve a problem.

One significant reason sentient beings possess inferior and weak wisdom is the abundance of distracting thoughts, resulting in a chaotic and cluttered mind lacking a clear main thread or focus. It is like a combat team where members act independently, scattering the team's strength and preventing it from coalescing into a powerful force capable of bravely and successfully resisting hostile forces. Consequently, they suffer defeat against every adversary. Another crucial reason is meager merit, a severe lack of blessings, and the absence of virtuous karma as support. This, however, will not be discussed further here.

Therefore, to enhance wisdom, particularly the wisdom of the manas, one must eliminate distracting thoughts and develop the ability to concentrate mental focus on very few, important, and critical issues. To achieve this, one must suppress the conscious mind, use it sparingly, and minimize the use of its language, words, and sounds. Avoid constant inner voices and internal monologues. While occasional conscious internal monologue is acceptable, beyond that, there should also be focused contemplation by the manas. The consciousness may engage in monologue while the manas simultaneously contemplates, both focused on the same matter. At this point, the energy of the manas becomes potent, its power concentrated, enabling it to break through the inner darkness and ignorance, find the root of the problem, and resolve it fundamentally.

When the manas contemplates clearly, it can solve problems fundamentally. Issues figured out by the conscious mind, even if resolved, tend to be incomplete, unstable, and unreliable. Moreover, they are difficult to solve thoroughly. This is because the manas is the governing consciousness. Problems it has considered clearly and resolved do not lead to regret. In contrast, following the analysis of the conscious mind easily leads to regret and changes of heart and mind. Fickle individuals are those accustomed to using the conscious mind for thinking, neglecting the manas; they tend to be superficial. People without firm opinions, who like to depend on others, are unaccustomed to using the manas for problem-solving; they habitually rely on the conscious mind. Because their own conscious mind is unreliable, they have no choice but to depend on others.

While using the manas to think and solve problems is reliable, thorough, ultimate, and capable of getting straight to the root, it is often slower. Deep thought takes time; shallow thought is faster. It is like digging a well: digging deep requires effort and is slow, while digging shallowly requires little effort and is fast. However, digging slowly yields water, whereas digging quickly does not produce water. Slowness is swiftness, and swiftness is slowness—the effects differ. Therefore, one must not seek speed; quality is paramount. Our approach to thinking and problem-solving is the same: deep contemplation and decision-making require time, but meticulous work yields perfect results. A person accustomed to deep thought, a person accustomed to using the manas, generally thinks and acts more slowly. Yet, relatively speaking, their wisdom is superior, their results are best, and they are less prone to errors or regret.

To achieve effective results in solving problems, do not seek speed. Be thoughtful and deliberate. Use the manas more for thinking and decision-making. Train the thinking power of the manas more, and practice that kind of concentration and observation devoid of language, words, or sound. After prolonged training, when the manas is used skillfully, one will discover that thinking with the manas is rich in charm and interest, highly attractive—the more one thinks, the more one does not wish to stop. Consequently, one develops a preference for solitude, disliking disturbances. Moreover, wisdom deepens increasingly, and solving problems becomes increasingly effortless and adept. When a person's manas is well-trained and habitually used, this individual appears profound, rich in substance and unique qualities, possessing deep thoughts, unique insights, strong abilities, and, crucially, is steady, reliable, trustworthy, and not prone to constant changes of mind.