When Hearing Sounds, One Should Recognize the True Mind, the Eighth Consciousness

When hearing sounds, there is the involvement of auditory consciousness, mental consciousness, as well as the seventh and eighth consciousnesses—all four consciousnesses being formless and without characteristics. To awaken to the truth while hearing, one must clearly distinguish which is the eighth consciousness, which is the seventh, which is mental consciousness, and which is auditory consciousness. Within the combined operation of these consciousnesses, it is essential to differentiate the true mind from the deluded mind. Once distinguished, one must recognize and apprehend that true mind—this is awakening to the mind's true nature.

If one lacks sufficient merit, meditative stability, and wisdom, they often mistake the deluded for the true, erroneously regarding the mental consciousness as the true eighth consciousness to be realized. When one awakens to the mental consciousness, there may still be a feeling of emptiness; the mind may become temporarily tranquil, one may perceive some phenomena of people, events, and objects as empty, and may even grasp a little bit of Buddhist scriptures, applying the principle of emptiness. However, such a person will never understand how the eighth consciousness specifically gives rise to the five aggregates, the seven consciousnesses, and all phenomena. This is precisely the dividing line between true awakening and mistaken awakening—a tiny deviation leads to a huge error.

Both mental consciousness and the eighth consciousness are formless and without characteristics, sharing some similarities. Ordinary people, when their mental consciousness becomes slightly tranquil—free from distracting thoughts and mental fluctuations, able to clearly perceive all phenomena inside and outside the body and mind—mistake this state of clear, luminous mental consciousness for the originally thoughtless and unknowing pure eighth consciousness. Thus, they mistake the true master. No matter how clear and luminous the mental consciousness becomes, no matter how seemingly unknowing it is, as long as mental consciousness exists, there is the knowing that perceives the objects of the six senses; or if mental consciousness attains stability, there is the knowing that perceives the state of stability. Therefore, it is not the eighth consciousness, nor true awakening. It is merely that one's own mental consciousness is rather dull, making it difficult to introspect and recognize the state one is currently in. Mistaking this for the unknowing nature of the eighth consciousness, one then believes they have realized the eighth consciousness—what a profound misunderstanding this is.

In reality, when mental consciousness becomes extremely subtle, its introspective power also becomes very weak. Combined with Buddhists' lack of understanding regarding the nature of mental consciousness, the phenomenon of mistakenly identifying mental consciousness as the true eighth consciousness is extremely widespread. Nowadays, people who believe themselves to be awakened are everywhere. Yet, after many years, their wisdom remains at the original level, stagnant without any advancement; they still cannot comprehend Chan (Zen) koans or understand the scriptures.

Therefore, I advise those Buddhists who believe they are already awakened: for the sake of your own matter of life and death (liberation from samsara), quickly turn back and examine what exactly it is you have realized. Check it against the scriptures. Re-analyze and re-evaluate the nature of mental consciousness and the nature of the eighth consciousness with careful scrutiny. Strictly distinguish the various differences between the true mind and the deluded mind. Then, diligently strive to fully perfect and possess the essential conditions required to be a Bodhisattva. Once you have fully met all the necessary conditions for being a Bodhisattva, return to Chan practice anew, seeking to truly enter the gate of Buddhism and become a Bodhisattva of true meaning.