Ālayavijñāna Is the Formless and Markless Mind Dharma

The Ālayavijñāna is a mental dharma without form or mark; it is not material form. Therefore, because no physical characteristics of the Ālayavijñāna can be found in material form, one says that the eyes do not contain the Ālayavijñāna—if they did, one would see the Ālayavijñāna. Nor does the physical body contain the Ālayavijñāna—if the Ālayavijñāna were present in it, one would not only be able to see the Ālayavijñāna, but also be able to feel it. In reality, we can neither see the Ālayavijñāna nor feel it; we cannot smell the Ālayavijñāna, cannot hear the Ālayavijñāna, and cannot think of the Ālayavijñāna. Only through Chan investigation can one realize the function of the Ālayavijñāna.