眾生無邊誓願度
煩惱無盡誓願斷
法門無量誓願學
佛道無上誓願成

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Dharma Teachings

25 Oct 2018    Thursday     8th Teach Total 954

Are the Five Aggregates Inside or Outside the Eighth Consciousness?

The five aggregates are not within the eighth consciousness — so are they outside the eighth consciousness? Where would "outside the eighth consciousness" even be? Which dharma is not the eighth consciousness? Does the eighth consciousness have an outside? What would be outside it? Empty space? Empty space is also within the eighth consciousness. What dharma could be outside the eighth consciousness?

Which dharma can exist apart from the eighth consciousness? If it cannot be separated from the eighth consciousness, can it be outside? If dharmas outside could detach from the eighth consciousness, then what dharma could exist independently, apart from the eighth consciousness? Original text of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra says: 一切法都是真心妙明中物。

Within the mind-body of the eighth consciousness there is no…… nothing……, yet all dharmas are nonetheless never apart from the eighth consciousness, nor are they adjacent to the eighth consciousness. The eighth consciousness is called the one true dharma realm, and all dharmas are within this one true dharma realm. They are not inside the mind-body; the mind-body is empty, possessing nothing at all, as stated in the Heart Sutra.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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Does the Eighth Consciousness Belong to the Consciousness Aggregate?

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