The Meaning of the Two Kinds of Dharmas of No-Self

"No-self" (anātman) consists of two words, yet it carries more than two different meanings; in different contexts, it represents different meanings. Only by clarifying these meanings can one understand what no-self actually refers to, and only then can one know how to begin practicing. The no-self of the seventh consciousness has several senses: one refers to the absence of the unborn-and-undying nature; one refers to the absence of the emptiness-nature (śūnyatā) possessed by the eighth consciousness; and one refers to the absence of sovereignty (the quality of being the master). The no-self of the eighth consciousness has two senses: one refers to the absence of the self-nature and selfishness characteristic of the seventh consciousness, and the other refers to the absence of the sovereignty and decision-making authority characteristic of the seventh consciousness.

Only by clarifying these concepts can one understand the true meaning of self and no-self, and only then can they guide one's practice. Being able to work one's way out of these concepts is also not easy.

A single term or concept may have multiple meanings. If the meanings are not clarified, and one remains muddled and confused, there is no way to begin practicing. For example, the word "real" (true) represents different meanings in different contexts: one meaning refers to the true reality—the eighth consciousness—which is unborn and undying, originally existent; the other refers to appearances within worldly phenomena that accord with facts, which are conditioned, arising-and-ceasing phenomena, not originally existent dharma.