The Manifestations of the Eight Consciousnesses in Confronting the Six Sense Objects

The realms of the six sense objects are manifested by the eighth consciousness. The four great element seeds of the eighth consciousness are constantly arising and returning moment by moment upon the realms of the six sense objects. The eighth consciousness, moment by moment, is always upholding and maintaining the six sense objects, never separable even for an instant—such intimate contact. How could the eighth consciousness fail to cognize the realms of the six sense objects? If the eighth consciousness did not cognize the realms of the six sense objects, how could it change the six sense objects moment by moment, how could it allow the six sense objects to continuously undergo various changes?

The eighth consciousness cognizing the realms of the six sense objects is like a computer processing programs, like a robot processing instructions—cognizing without discriminating. Cognition is knowing; discrimination is knowing the specifics of how things are. The eighth consciousness cognizes the realms of the six sense objects, yet it does not know east, west, south, north, or center; it does not know whether the six sense objects are wholesome or unwholesome, beautiful or ugly, right or wrong; it does not know what the six sense objects even are. Therefore, facing the six sense objects, the eighth consciousness remains suchness immovable (tathatā-acalita), without arising thoughts or mental activity, without emotions, without feeling, without mental formations, without creating karmic actions—having neither karmic actions nor karmic retribution. Because the eighth consciousness is utterly devoid of sentiment like a piece of wood, it is neutral feeling (upekṣā-vedanā); and because it is neutral feeling, its mind-ground is pure, without desires, without demands, without any activity, without any vows or vow-actions. That is why it is said to be an unconditioned dharma (asaṃskṛta-dharma).

When the seven consciousnesses face the realms of the six sense objects, what is their manifestation? Grasping (upādāna), craving and attachment, aversion, hatred, and so on. From the manifestation of the seven consciousnesses when facing the realms of the six sense objects, we know that in many cases it is not neutral feeling—emotions are intense and abnormal, and the mind is restless like a monkey. Why is this so? The seven consciousnesses know what is wholesome and unwholesome, right and wrong; they know what brings benefit or harm, gain or loss to themselves; they know profit and detriment. The seven consciousnesses have a self within the mind, and they must always view things from the standpoint of the self, must always protect their own interests, and will inevitably have thoughts and emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Facing sense objects, when the mind is not calm, that is not neutral feeling. If it were neutral feeling, the state of mind would be peaceful, the mental formations would be unconditioned, and whatever the sense objects were like would be fine—it would not matter.