Buddhist Practice Is the Transformation of Delusive Dharmas into the Pure and Undefiled

All phenomena arise from the union of the true and the false, where the true refers to the true mind, and the false refers to the false mind of the seven evolving consciousnesses. All activities within the realm of the five aggregates result from the collaborative functioning of the eight consciousnesses. The daily life, Buddhist practice, cultivation, and propagation of the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings by a Bodhisattva cannot proceed without the true, nor can they proceed without the false. Sentient beings forever depend on both the true and the false for their existence. The true is essential because it gives rise to the false; without the false, if only the true existed, sentient beings could not exist, and all phenomena would cease to be—thus the false is also essential.

Although the seven consciousnesses are subject to birth, cessation, and change, they cannot be extinguished. Since they cannot be extinguished, they must be transformed. Once transformed, one attains Buddhahood. Therefore, our study and practice of Buddhism involve cultivating the false mind of the seven consciousnesses, eradicating all ignorance within them, and purifying all defilements within them. The seven consciousnesses, originally characterized by ignorance, are transformed into wisdom. Once consciousness is transformed into wisdom, the cultivation is complete. Hence, the purpose of practice is not to extinguish the seven consciousnesses but to transform them; nor is it to eliminate all phenomena but to transform them. All false phenomena within the three realms must be transformed into what is pure, pristine, and uncontaminated—that is the state of Buddhahood.