Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Fifty-Five)

The realm of consciousness and the nature of the realm of consciousness are both unattainable

Original text:然此识界。各各了别。彼彼境已。即便灭谢。生无所来。灭无所去。大王。识生时空。灭时亦空。自性离故。不住男相。亦非女相。但唯言说。之所显示。如是识界。与识界性。皆不可得。唯佛正慧。而能了知。

Explanation: Then, after this realm of consciousness has distinctly discerned each of its corresponding sense objects, it ceases. When the realm of consciousness arises, there is nowhere it comes from; when it ceases, there is nowhere it goes. Great King, when the realm of consciousness arises, it is empty; when it ceases, it is also empty. The self-nature of this realm of consciousness is free from all marks and is also empty; it does not abide in the mark of maleness, nor does it abide in the mark of femaleness. It is merely an illusory appearance manifested by verbal designation. Therefore, it is said that both the realm of consciousness and the nature of the realm of consciousness are utterly unattainable; only the Buddha's supreme and perfect great wisdom can fully comprehend their content without obstruction.