"Neither Ignorance Nor the Cessation of Ignorance"

The statement in the Heart Sutra, "no ignorance nor ending of ignorance," refers to the eighth consciousness having no ignorance. Therefore, the eighth consciousness does not need cultivation, does not need to eradicate ignorance, does not need to sever afflictions, does not need to attain liberation, nor does it need to become a Buddha. The seventh consciousness and the five aggregates cannot be like this. Since the seventh consciousness and the five aggregates possess ignorance, they require cultivation to eradicate ignorance, to completely eradicate ignorance, to become pure and perfectly free, and to attain liberation. In the process of eradicating ignorance, one needs to cultivate, needs to uphold precepts, needs to practice meditation, needs to study Prajna wisdom, needs to engage in Chan meditation and realization, needs to sever afflictions, needs to attain enlightenment, and needs to become a Buddha.