What Is Neither Increase Nor Decrease?

The six faculties in the Dharma Realm neither increase nor decrease; the six objects in the Dharma Realm neither increase nor decrease; the six consciousnesses in the Dharma Realm neither increase nor decrease; and the five aggregates of form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness neither increase nor decrease. This is because the phenomenal realm is illusory and transient, lacking inherent nature, and thus has never increased or decreased; the illusory arising and illusory cessation are ultimately unobtainable, hence there is neither increase nor decrease; all phenomena arise from the conjunction of causes and conditions, fundamentally lacking substantial existence, having never been born nor ceased, hence there is neither increase nor decrease. To comprehend the Dharma Realm in this way is profoundly wise; although it is wisdom of consciousness, it is still excellent, capable of guiding contemplative practice and realization.

Is an emanation body (Nirmanakaya) a sentient being? Does it increase or decrease? An emanation body is also a sentient being. Though its phenomena may increase or decrease, its nature does not increase or decrease, and its essence neither increases nor decreases. The reason sentient beings are sentient beings is that they possess a complete set of "props," including the eight consciousnesses, which may also include the physical body, but primarily consist of the mental faculty (manas) and the eighth consciousness (Alaya-vijnana). With the seventh and eighth consciousnesses as the foundation, since these neither increase nor decrease, the emanation body neither increases nor decreases. The Dharma body (Dharmakaya) is the eighth consciousness; the reward body (Sambhogakaya) is the seventh consciousness; and the emanation body is the six consciousnesses. Regardless of how many emanation bodies Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest, they all exist based on the Dharma body and the reward body, belonging to and dependent upon them. An emanation body cannot exist independently; it cannot be considered a sentient being in isolation, for it lacks autonomy and self-mastery.