What Exactly Is the Thought-Transcending Knowing Mind?

The eighth consciousness pervades all times, all places, all locations, all realms, and all dharmas. "Pervading all times" means the eighth consciousness exists instant by instant, never separated from sentient beings, never separated from the seventh consciousness (manas), and never separated from the five aggregates. "Pervading all places" means the eighth consciousness exists in all sentient beings throughout the three realms and nine stages; every sentient being possesses the eighth consciousness. Every sentient being dwelling within the three realms and nine stages has the eighth consciousness. Even after transcending the three realms and entering nirvana without residue, the eighth consciousness still exists, though the sentient being's self is no longer present.

"Pervading all locations" means the eighth consciousness pervades the six sense faculties and also pervades the six sense objects. Whenever a sentient being's six sense faculties contact the six sense objects, the presence and manifestation of the eighth consciousness exist. "Pervading all realms" means the eighth consciousness is present on the six sense faculties, present on the six sense objects, and also present within the six consciousnesses. "Pervading all dharmas" means that as long as a dharma exists, regardless of whether it can be cognized, it is upheld by the eighth consciousness; whether it is form dharma or mind dharma, it is held by the eighth consciousness; whether it is conditioned dharma or unconditioned dharma, it is upheld by the eighth consciousness. As long as a dharma exists, all phenomena, affairs, and principles are upheld by the eighth consciousness.

Many people do not understand whether the thought-free knowing mind is the sixth consciousness or the eighth consciousness. Now, let us analyze this thought-free knowing mind. "Thought-free" means there are no thoughts or delusions present at that moment. "Knowing" means being clearly aware, knowing oneself to be without thoughts, knowing one has no thoughts, knowing one is temporarily free from delusions and thinking. In the thought-free state, one can even be aware of other states. So, how many consciousnesses are present in this thought-free state? Since the eighth consciousness pervades all times, it certainly exists at this moment; otherwise, the five aggregates would not exist, the seven consciousnesses would not exist, and the state of thought-free awareness could not occur.

Is the seventh consciousness present at this time? Certainly, if the seventh consciousness were absent, sentient beings would enter nirvana without residue, and the state of thought-free knowing would simply not arise. Is the sixth consciousness present here? Of course, except in five situations where the sixth consciousness ceases: during dreamless sleep, unconsciousness, death, the state of no-thought concentration, and the state of cessation concentration. Since thought-free knowing does not fall into these five categories, it indicates the sixth consciousness also exists. Moreover, being able to know the state of being without thoughts in the mental object field (dharmadhātu) shows that the knowing mind present during thought-free awareness is precisely the sixth consciousness. As for whether the first five consciousnesses are present during thought-free knowing, as long as one can perceive the existence of the five sense objects (form, sound, smell, taste, touch), that is the perception of the five consciousnesses.

Since during thought-free knowing, at least three consciousnesses are present—the eighth, seventh, and sixth—if someone claims to have attained enlightenment at this moment, which consciousness did they realize? Here lies a significant difference. Realizing correctly means realizing the eighth consciousness; realizing incorrectly means realizing the sixth consciousness. The seventh consciousness is generally not easy for ordinary people to realize, and the eighth consciousness is also difficult to realize; this requires special conditions. These special conditions are the six perfections (pāramitās) taught by the Buddha for Bodhisattvas. Without fulfilling the conditions of the six perfections, it is impossible to realize the eighth consciousness, impossible to attain the enlightenment of the true mind and become a Bodhisattva of true meaning, impossible to transcend the state of an ordinary being, and thus impossible to ensure one never falls into the three evil paths in the future.

If a practitioner lacks sufficient merit, has not upheld the precepts, has insufficiently developed their mind nature, lacks patience and forbearance, is not diligent in the cultivation of giving, precepts, patience, meditation, and wisdom, has not attained even the preliminary concentration before reaching the dhyāna states, lacks sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Buddha's teachings, and does not comprehend the nature of the eighth consciousness, then it stands to reason that such a person absolutely cannot realize the eighth consciousness. If someone believes they have attained enlightenment at this time, they must carefully examine which consciousness they have realized. Only after thoroughly learning and understanding the nature of all eight consciousnesses can one accurately judge one's own realization or that of others, and thus know what has truly been realized.