What Is the Turning of Consciousness into Wisdom?

The nature of the conscious mind is characterized by ignorance, delusion, affliction, obscuration, and attachment. Its wisdom remains shallow, causing perception of phenomena to often fall into conceptual appearances, lacking the wisdom of consciousness-only and failing to recognize the true nature of phenomena. After realizing the mind's nature, one gradually attains meditative concentration, eradicates afflictions, removes obscurations, and progressively transcends the final barrier. While abiding in the remnant nirvana, one gains the capacity to enter the nirvana without remainder at life's end yet chooses not to do so. Subsequently, by passing through the contemplation of dream-like reality and studying consciousness-only, one acquires a portion of the wisdom of consciousness-only seeds. Perceiving phenomena, one knows the nature of consciousness-only and comprehends the essence of phenomena, no longer falling into worldly conceptual appearances. Wisdom undergoes a qualitative leap, whereupon the sixth and seventh consciousnesses transform into wisdom. One then enters the Tathagata's household, becoming a true Buddha-son who can inherit and propagate the Buddha's lineage, spreading the Dharma in a region on behalf of the Buddha.

The prerequisite for transforming consciousness into wisdom is the attainment of fruition—specifically, the third fruition or higher. One must possess meditative concentration, specifically the first dhyāna or beyond, and have realized the mind's nature through enlightenment. This requires not only the wisdom of the universal characteristics of the Dharma-realm but also the subsequent attainment wisdom, enabling the subtle observation of Tathagatagarbha's operation within the five aggregates. Additionally, one must possess a portion of the wisdom of consciousness-only seeds. Therefore, without meditative concentration, there can be no discussion of attainment, no talk of wisdom, and certainly no transformation of consciousness into wisdom—at best, one may possess an unsatisfying "dry wisdom."