How Does the Bodhisattva Nature Come Into Being?

When sentient beings possess only the seventh and eighth consciousnesses and do not yet have a body of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha), which sentient being has the bodhisattva nature? If one did not have the bodhisattva nature, one could not attain buddhahood—so where did all those buddhas and bodhisattvas in the worlds of the ten directions come from? The manas, before beginningless kalpas, had no innate bodhisattva nature; but after acquiring a body of the five aggregates, through the conditioning of the environment acquired later in life, upon seeing one's own suffering and the suffering of sentient beings, one will give rise to the bodhisattva nature, and ultimately can attain buddhahood. The act of giving rise to the bodhisattva nature is most precious; being able to see the suffering of sentient beings and give rise to a mind of compassion is most precious—this is the bodhisattva lineage (gotra).