Categories of the Unconditioned

The "emptiness non-action" in the Hundred Dharma Gate Treatise refers to the eighth consciousness's fundamental essence, which is utterly immovable like empty space; this is its non-active nature. The eighth consciousness is forever unchanging and unmoving; regardless of the circumstances encountered, it never stirs thoughts, its intrinsic nature being non-active. "Thusness non-action" refers to the non-active nature of the eighth consciousness, and "non-choice cessation non-action" also refers to the non-action of the eighth consciousness.

"Immovable non-action" refers to when the seven consciousnesses cultivate to the stage of the fourth dhyāna, the mind no longer stirs thoughts, thus becoming non-active; the body, without breath, pulse, or heartbeat, also becomes non-active and immobile. When both body and mind are non-active, it is called "immovable non-action." "Choice cessation non-action" and "perception-feeling cessation non-action" both refer to the non-action of the seven consciousnesses. Within the state of cessation, the mental faculty (manas) is devoid of perception and feeling, retaining only volition, contact, and cognition; thus, most mental activities become non-active.

Among the six types of non-active dharmas, the non-action of the eighth consciousness is discussed, as is the non-action of the seven consciousnesses, encompassing both the true and the conditioned. In reality, the eighth consciousness is primordially non-active; its intrinsic nature is non-active, yet this does not hinder its functional, active nature of serving sentient beings and the five aggregates. Within this activity, its intrinsic nature remains resolutely non-active. Is there any dharma surpassing the non-active nature of the eighth consciousness? There is none. The seven consciousnesses can never be more non-active than the eighth consciousness; the five aggregates can never be more non-active than the eighth consciousness; there exists no dharma more non-active than the eighth consciousness. The eighth consciousness is inherently a non-active dharma, whereas the seven consciousnesses only gradually become non-active after cultivation to a considerable degree, and this acquired non-action is subject to arising and ceasing. The six types of non-active dharmas in the Hundred Dharma Gate Treatise also include the non-action cultivated by the seven consciousnesses; therefore, non-active dharmas also have distinctions of authentic and conditioned.