The Discriminative Nature of the Eighth Consciousness and the Self-Realization Portion

The svasaṃvedana (self-witnessing portion) of the eighth consciousness: Firstly, it means that ordinary beings and bodhisattvas below the first bhūmi cannot observe the svasaṃvedana of the eighth consciousness. Secondly, the content of the svasaṃvedana of the eighth consciousness differs from that of the svasaṃvedana of the mental consciousness. The eighth consciousness is devoid of self, unaware of any "I," yet it can know which dharmas have been operating. Those already completed are not repeated, while those unfinished continue to operate; it knows how to operate them.

The svasaṃvedana revealing the selflessness of the eighth consciousness is difficult to articulate clearly through language. Just like the cognitive and aware nature of the eighth consciousness: Does the eighth consciousness cognize the six dusts (objects of the senses)? It certainly does cognize; otherwise, how could it manifest the six dusts, alter the six dusts, and sustain the six dusts? However, this cognition by the eighth consciousness cannot grasp the specific connotations like the six consciousnesses do, cannot cognize the six dusts and then understand what cognition actually is. After the eighth consciousness cognizes the six dusts, it knows nothing at all, and then simply continues cognizing and operating. The mechanical mode of cognition of the eighth consciousness is like a computer cognizing a program; a computer can cognize fonts and write fonts, but it does not know what a font is, whereas the mental consciousness knows what a font is and its significance.

It is also like a washing machine cognizing instructions to wash clothes but not knowing the specific meaning or content of those instructions, whereas the mental consciousness knows. The operational cognition and awareness of the eighth consciousness are like that of a mindless robot: it performs the work, yet does not ultimately know what it has done, whereas the mental consciousness knows.