Can the Eighth Consciousness Discriminate the Six Dusts?

When hearing sounds, there is the function and action of ear consciousness, the function and action of mind consciousness, the function and action of manas, and the function and action of the eighth consciousness. Here, only the function and action of mind consciousness will be discussed. The function and action of eye consciousness is easily understood, while that of manas is more profound, subtle, and difficult to comprehend. The function and action of the eighth consciousness absolutely cannot be explained.

If, apart from eye consciousness, mind consciousness, and manas, the eighth consciousness could hear sounds, then let the eighth consciousness hear the sounds of the ten-direction worlds. However, even if the eighth consciousness can hear all sounds, what does that have to do with mind consciousness? Mind consciousness still cannot understand the meaning of the sounds. When an Arhat enters nirvana without residue, if their eighth consciousness can hear sounds and do everything, would such nirvana still be tranquil? If the eighth consciousness can hear sounds, can it discern whether it is a male or female voice? Can it know if the sound is pleasant? Can it know where the sound comes from? Can it understand what music it is? Can the eighth consciousness know the content of these words? Can the knowing of the eighth consciousness replace the knowing of mind consciousness? If it could, the five aggregates and six consciousnesses could be extinguished forever, without affecting seeing forms, hearing sounds, listening to the Dharma, or the activities of the five aggregates.

If the eighth consciousness further possesses the governing function and action of manas, then the self-nature of the eighth consciousness becomes vividly apparent, no longer being the selfless eighth consciousness. If this "self" were to create karma, it would be no less potent than the seventh consciousness. Then birth-and-death samsara would be the eighth consciousness's own affair, unrelated to the seventh consciousness or the five aggregates. This would completely overturn the existing theoretical system of the Buddhadharma and establish a new Buddhadharma system. Which system is correct and accords with truth and reality? Since the eighth consciousness can discriminate the objects of the six dusts, let the eighth consciousness handle all matters, allowing the seven consciousnesses to rest. It would be fine even if they slept for a hundred years.

Some also say that actions like pushing fists, raising palms, rubbing hands, and clenching fists, etc., are the eighth consciousness, and knowing this is enlightenment. Well then, in the future, if anything needs to be done, let's have the eighth consciousness do it. Let all seven consciousnesses rest. After death, there would be nothing to worry about because the eighth consciousness can do everything, completely replacing the five-aggregate body. After falling asleep or into a stupor, let the eighth consciousness see forms, hear sounds, smell fragrances, taste flavors, feel touches, and know dharmas. It wouldn't matter if the six consciousnesses were extinguished; the presence or absence of manas would also be irrelevant.

If the functions and actions of the true and the false cannot be distinguished, then there is no point in discussing realizing the fruits, illuminating the mind, and so on. Those who are enlightened in this way, realizing the thought-free, spiritually aware mind, often attain such realization. Some of them have realized it this way, and many enlightenment experiences across various schools are also like this. However, these realizations are very peculiar, mistaking the false for the true, failing to distinguish the true from the false, and are no different from not realizing the secret meaning.