The Distinction Between Pariniṣpanna and Pariniṣpanna-svabhāva

The six consciousnesses and the five sense faculties with their six objects are of paratantra-svabhāva (dependent nature), meaning the nature of phenomena and principles themselves is dependent on other dharmas for its arising; it is not autonomous and cannot exist independently. "Nature" (xing) refers to the inherent quality of phenomena and principles; without the character "xing," it represents the phenomena and principles themselves. The seventh consciousness, the mental faculty (manas), is of parikalpita-svabhāva (imagined nature); the mental faculty itself is the consciousness-mind characterized by pervasive conceptualization.

The eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna), as the fundamental substance, is capable of perfectly accomplishing all dharmas, enabling all dharmas to manifest as they truly are, to exist in their as-it-is-ness. Therefore, the eighth consciousness possesses pariniṣpanna-svabhāva (perfectly accomplished nature). All dharmas apart from the eighth consciousness are perfectly accomplished and brought forth by the eighth consciousness using the seeds within itself; they all carry the nature of the eighth consciousness and can, for expediency, also be said to possess pariniṣpanna-svabhāva. Whether pariniṣpanna-svabhāva refers to the nature of the eighth consciousness as substance or to the nature of all dharmas depends on the context and should be understood according to the meaning; in any case, it signifies true nature, reality-nature, genuine nature, suchness-nature, or fundamental nature.