The Eighth Consciousness Is the Self Yet Lacks Self-Nature; the Sixth and Seventh Consciousnesses Are Not the Self Yet Possess Self-Nature

Nirvana Sutra original text: Moreover, liberation is called the cessation of all conditioned dharmas, the arising of all untainted wholesome dharmas, cutting off and blocking all paths. That is to say, whether it is self or non-self, neither self nor non-self. Only severing attachment, not severing the view of self. The view of self is called Buddha-nature; Buddha-nature is true liberation; true liberation is Tathagata.

Explanation: The so-called liberation is the cessation of all conditioned dharmas in the world, the arising of all wholesome dharmas free from greed, hatred, and delusion, cutting off and blocking the paths of all conditioned dharmas in the three realms. These untainted wholesome dharmas are either self (the eighth consciousness) or non-self (as realized by the sixth and seventh consciousnesses), neither having self (the sixth and seventh consciousnesses) nor non-self (the eighth consciousness). "Self" refers, first, to the eighth consciousness, and second, to the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. "Non-self" refers, first, to the eighth consciousness, and second, to the sixth and seventh consciousnesses.

Before enlightenment, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses have self and possess self; after enlightenment, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are non-self and without self, recognizing the eighth consciousness as self. Although recognizing the eighth consciousness as self, the eighth consciousness is also without self, lacking the self-nature, lord-nature, grasping-nature, and ignorance-nature like the sixth and seventh consciousnesses.

In summary, the eighth consciousness has the nature of self and non-self, while the sixth and seventh consciousnesses are not self but have self-nature. After the sixth and seventh consciousnesses sever the view of self, they are without self, knowing that self is not self; after realizing the mind, gradually regard the eighth consciousness as self, gradually becoming without self-nature.

Thus, it only severs attachment to the five aggregates and worldly dharmas, but does not sever the view of self. This view of self refers to one's own true suchness Buddha-nature; the Buddha-nature of the eighth consciousness is true liberation; true liberation is Tathagata.