Distinctions in the Manifesting Function of the Three Transforming Consciousnesses

The manifestation of images by the mental faculty (manas) is fundamentally distinct from the manifestation of images by the Tathagatagarbha. When the Tathagatagarbha manifests images, there exists a relationship of generation between the Tathagatagarbha and the image, where the image is generated by it. In contrast, when the mental faculty manifests images, no such relationship of generation exists between the mental faculty and the image. Although the mental faculty is the second transforming consciousness, this "transformation" does not imply generation out of nothing; rather, it signifies manifestation and facilitation.

Consciousness (vijnana) and the five sense consciousnesses are the third transforming consciousnesses. They also possess the function of manifesting and revealing images. However, the manifestation by consciousness is not as true to reality as the manifestation by the mental faculty; it can manifest erroneous, misplaced, and distorted images. Consequently, it does not function merely to purely illuminate all dharmas; instead, it presents an image that has been processed. Of course, the manifestation by the mental faculty is also not entirely true to reality; it involves a certain degree of distortion and alteration, though less severe than the distortions produced by consciousness. The manifestation by the Tathagatagarbha, however, is completely true to reality, without distortion or alteration, faithfully reflecting the original state of dharmas. Therefore, the manifestation by the Tathagatagarbha truly resembles an image reflected in a mirror. This illustrates the distinction in image manifestation among the Three Transforming Consciousnesses.

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