The Seven Vijñānas Are Also Without Attainment

The seventh consciousness appears to grasp something, as if acquiring the worldly five desires and six dusts, yet in reality, it obtains nothing. Due to ignorance and delusion, it delusionally believes it has gained something, when in fact it has gained nothing and can gain nothing. It toils in vain, schemes futilely, and exhausts all its cunning, only to end up laboring pointlessly throughout this life and lifetime after lifetime.

These truths must be quietly contemplated in meditative concentration and verified through long-term reflection before one can realize that nothing can be attained. The practice of learning Buddhism is precisely to eradicate ignorance, recognize that one fundamentally obtains nothing, and then cease all seeking and grasping—thereby attaining liberation and Buddhahood.

Upon realizing that ultimately nothing is attained, the seventh consciousness becomes empty of mind and non-acting. Yet, while non-acting, one must still act to benefit self and others. When acting with an empty mind, one acts without seeking—free from personal gain, private motives, or consideration of individual success, failure, loss, or profit. Thus, though one may accomplish many deeds, it is as if nothing was done: one claims no merit, harbors no pride, feels no self-satisfaction, and engages in no transactional exchanges with individuals or groups. Selflessness is much easier than non-attachment; first, one must achieve selflessness, and only then can non-attachment gradually follow. Only by disregarding personal gain can one gradually realize the state of attaining nothing and seeking nothing.