The Undefiled Consciousness (Amala-vijñāna) Is the True Self

In the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, the World-Honored One said, "Still neither the true Self nor ultimate reality." This means that sentient beings' ālayavijñāna is not yet the true self, not yet completely real, because the mind-substance still contains the arising-and-ceasing seeds created by the seven consciousnesses; the seeds still possess the nature of arising and ceasing, so it is not yet the self of permanence, bliss, self, and purity, nor is it completely constant and unchanging. Only upon attaining buddhahood does the undefiled consciousness (amala-vijñāna) become the true self, become completely and utterly real, no longer having seeds that arise, cease, and change, thereby becoming the self of permanence, bliss, self, and purity.