Diamond Sutra: The Profound Meaning of Consciousness-Only (19)

The Buddha said that bodhisattva-mahāsattvas should subdue their minds in this way, and the mind that can be subdued must be the deluded mind. The true mind has never given rise to thoughts or ideation; it has no views or notions, does not cling to the three realms and the six sense objects, does not create bodily, verbal, and mental actions, and is pure and free of afflictions; therefore, there is no need to subdue it. As for the deluded mind—the eye consciousness, ear consciousness, nose consciousness, tongue consciousness, body consciousness, mind consciousness, and manas—they are always clinging to the six sense objects and the myriad dharmas, giving rise to mental activity, with countless views, opinions, and perspectives; the view and grasping of self regarding persons, and the view and grasping of self regarding dharmas, are all blazingly strong, and their bodily, verbal, and mental actions correspond to greed, anger, and delusion. Therefore, they need to be subdued, ignorance must be eradicated, and the virtuous function of wisdom must be brought forth.

To subdue the deluded mind of the seven consciousnesses, one must understand the functions and roles of the seven consciousnesses. The eye consciousness sees forms, distinguishing blue, yellow, red, and white, long and short, square and round, large and small, while the mind consciousness simultaneously distinguishes subtle aspects—good or bad, beautiful or ugly, charm, temperament, and so on. Within this, feelings of liking and disliking arise, such as suffering, happiness, or neither-suffering-nor-happiness, and then bodily, verbal, and mental actions appear. The ear consciousness hears sounds, distinguishing whether sounds are high or low, near or far, and their direction, while the mind consciousness simultaneously distinguishes their categories and meanings, giving rise to mental activity such as craving and aversion; there are feelings of suffering, happiness, or neither-suffering-nor-happiness, and consequently bodily, verbal, and mental actions appear. The nose consciousness smells scents, distinguishing fragrant from foul and their directions, while the mind consciousness simultaneously distinguishes the types and degrees of the scents, giving rise to mental activity of liking and disliking; there are feelings of suffering, happiness, or neither-suffering-nor-happiness, and then bodily, verbal, and mental actions appear.