How Does the Seventh Consciousness Transform Defilement into Purity?

The name "ālaya-vijñāna" is used by sentient beings before the eighth ground (bhūmi) Bodhisattva stage. After the eighth ground, it is renamed "amala-vijñāna" (immaculate consciousness). The term "ālaya-vijñāna" signifies that within the sentient being's tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature), there still exist the seeds of afflictions (kleśa) and habitual tendencies (vāsanā) of the seven consciousnesses. These seeds are subject to arising, change, and cessation, and when combined with the non-arising, non-ceasing tathāgatagarbha, they form the ālaya-vijñāna, which is described as neither arising nor ceasing. If the seeds of the arising and ceasing karmic activities of the seven consciousnesses stored within the ālaya-vijñāna are eliminated, and the seven consciousnesses eradicate both afflictions and their habitual tendencies, the ālaya-vijñāna is then renamed amala-vijñāna.

The practice involves transforming the defiled nature of the seven consciousnesses, removing their afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion, eliminating their habitual tendencies, and dispelling ignorance. This gradually transforms the defiled nature of the mind of the seven consciousnesses and progressively increases its purity. In this practice, one must rely upon the eighth consciousness, recognize its essential nature, and realize the eighth consciousness itself. Then, by observing the purity of the eighth consciousness and its non-defiled conditioned activity, the seven consciousnesses can be influenced and gradually approach the purity of the eighth consciousness. No longer clinging to the illusory phenomena of the world, the seven consciousnesses can attain liberation and accomplish the Buddha Way. Realizing the eighth consciousness is crucial within this process. Only by realizing the eighth consciousness can one know the true reality of the Dharma realm, sever the attachments to self and phenomena, and ultimately attain Buddhahood.