Manas (Buddhist)
Manas (mind, thinking faculty) is one of the six sense faculties in Buddhist psychology.
Overview
Manas (Pali manas, Sanskrit manas) literally means “mind” or “thinking faculty.” In Buddhist psychology, it is the sixth sense faculty, responsible for mental cognition — the processing of ideas, concepts, and mental objects. It is distinguished from vijnana (consciousness), which is the awareness of objects, and from citta (mind-moment), which encompasses the totality of mental activity.
Philosophical Context
The Abhidhamma classifies manas as one of the six internal sense bases (ayatana): eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Manas cognizes dhamma (mental objects) — thoughts, ideas, and concepts. It is also one of the five aggregates (khandha), specifically the sankhara (mental formations) aggregate. In the twelve links of dependent origination, sankhara (mental formations) arise from ignorance (avijja) and condition consciousness (vinnana).
Interpretations
In Theravada Abhidhamma, manas is analyzed as a series of citta (mind-moments) — each moment of consciousness arising and passing away in rapid succession. In Mahayana Buddhism, manas is understood through the lens of shunyata — the mind is empty of inherent existence and thus can be transformed. The Vimalakirti Sutra describes the nature of mind as “like the sky, unobstructed and pure.”
Verification Notes
- Abhidhammattha Sangaha on the six sense faculties.
- Visuddhimagga XIV on the mind-base.
- Vimalakirti Sutra on the nature of mind.
- Audited against Wikipedia and Buddhist psychology references (September 2026).