The False Self and the True Self Cannot Be Equated

I do not study Buddhism, I do not practice, I do not uphold precepts, I do not cultivate concentration, I do not develop wisdom, I do not seek liberation; I am carefree and at ease, spontaneously and naturally. What does this "I" refer to? It refers to the eighth consciousness. Can the subject here be replaced with the seventh consciousness? Can the seventh consciousness and the five aggregates also be like the eighth consciousness—not studying Buddhism, not practicing, not upholding precepts, not cultivating concentration, not developing wisdom, not seeking liberation, spontaneously and naturally? No. Can these two "I"s be interchanged? Also no.

Some say that since one must learn from the eighth consciousness, rely on the eighth consciousness, and transform based on the eighth consciousness, one should be like the eighth consciousness. Is this statement correct? To say it's incorrect is not right, and to say it's correct is not right either. Rigorous logical thinking is required: in which aspects should one emulate the eighth consciousness, and in which aspects should one not? When should one learn from the eighth consciousness, and when should one not? After attaining Buddhahood, the seventh consciousness becomes identical to the eighth consciousness—neither studying Buddhism, nor upholding precepts, nor cultivating concentration, nor developing wisdom, nor seeking liberation, nor attaining Buddhahood. Before attaining Buddhahood, during the stage of sentient beings, one must study Buddhism, uphold precepts, cultivate concentration, develop wisdom, seek liberation, and strive for Buddhahood.

Before attaining Buddhahood, one must learn the purity and the absence of greed, hatred, and delusion in the functioning of the eighth consciousness within the five aggregates. After attaining Buddhahood, the seventh consciousness becomes as pure as the eighth consciousness, so there is no need to further learn the purity of the eighth consciousness, for a Buddha is one who has nothing more to learn.

The two "I"s—the seventh consciousness and the eighth consciousness—can sometimes be interchanged, and sometimes cannot. Only by clearly distinguishing these two "I"s can one practice well. If they are conflated, practice becomes impossible, and attainment cannot be achieved.