The Manifestations of the Eighth Consciousness When Facing the Six Sense Objects

The realms of the six sense objects are manifested by the eighth consciousness. The four great seeds of the eighth consciousness are constantly arising and returning on the realms of the six sense objects, moment after moment. The eighth consciousness, moment after moment, is grasping and sustaining the six sense objects; they cannot be separated even for an instant. With such intimate contact, how could the eighth consciousness fail to discern the realms of the six sense objects? If the eighth consciousness did not discern the realms of the six sense objects, how could it change the six sense objects moment by moment? How could it allow the six sense objects to continuously manifest all kinds of changes?

The eighth consciousness discerns the realms of the six sense objects just as a computer discerns programs, just as a robot discerns instructions—discerning without discriminating. To discern is to know; to discriminate is to know the specifics of how things are. The eighth consciousness discerns the realms of the six sense objects, yet it does not know east, west, south, north, or center; it does not know whether the six sense objects are wholesome or unwholesome, beautiful or ugly, right or wrong; it does not know what the six sense objects even are. Therefore, facing the realms of the six sense objects, the eighth consciousness remains in suchness, immovable, without the arising of thoughts, without feeling, without emotions, without mental activity, and it does not create karmic formations. Having neither karmic formations nor retributive results. Because the eighth consciousness is utterly devoid of sentiment, like a piece of wood, it is neutral feeling (upekṣā-vedanā); and because it is neutral feeling, its mind-ground is pure, without desire, without seeking, without any action, without any vows or volitional actions—this is why it is said to be an unconditioned dharma.