Dependent Origination and Non-Dependent Origination

The conditioned dharmas of the six consciousnesses, six sense objects, and five sense faculties are easily dispersed and perishable; therefore they are easily destroyed, easily changed, and easily eradicated. The unconditioned dharma of the manas is not easily dispersed and perishable; therefore it is not easily destroyed, not easily changed, and not easily eradicated. Changing the manas is very difficult, which is why it is said that cultivation is not easy and liberation is not easy.

As for the unconditioned eighth consciousness, it simply does not disperse or perish, does not mutate, cannot be changed, and cannot be eradicated. Therefore, in the practice of cultivation, there is no need to cultivate or change the eighth consciousness; one only needs to realize the eighth consciousness, and then see with one's own eyes that all dharmas depend on the eighth consciousness and are products of the eighth consciousness, and that before the eighth consciousness, all dharmas are concealed and do not manifest. In this way, one no longer grasps at any dharmas—not even grasping at the eighth consciousness itself. The mind becomes greatly empty, utterly empty. This is liberation.

When there is no meditative concentration (samādhi), one sees all dharmas as just all dharmas; when there is meditative concentration, one sees all dharmas as not being all dharmas—one can see the true appearance of dharmas, and can see the substance and root of dharmas. Afterward, ignorance is extinguished, the mind is transformed, and there is liberation.