The Manifestation of the Eighth Consciousness in the Six Dust Realms

The six dust realms are manifested by the eighth consciousness. The four great seeds of the eighth consciousness continuously arise and return upon the six dust realms moment by moment. The eighth consciousness ceaselessly upholds and maintains the six dust realms instant by instant, never separating from them even for a moment. With such intimate contact, how could the eighth consciousness fail to perceive the six dust realms? If the eighth consciousness did not perceive the six dust realms, how could it alter them moment by moment, and how could it cause the six dust realms to continuously manifest various changes?

The eighth consciousness perceives the six dust realms like a computer perceives a program, or like a robot perceives instructions—it perceives without discriminating. Perception is knowing; discrimination is knowing the specifics. The eighth consciousness perceives the six dust realms yet does not know directions like east, west, south, north, or center; it does not know the good or evil, beauty or ugliness, right or wrong, straight or crooked of the six dust realms; it does not know what the six dust realms are. Therefore, facing the six dust realms, the eighth consciousness remains unmoved, neither giving rise to thoughts nor mental stirrings. It has no sensation, no emotions, no mental formations, and creates no karmic actions. Since it has no karmic actions, it also bears no karmic results. Because the eighth consciousness is as unfeeling as wood, it is characterized by equanimity. Because it abides in equanimity, its mind-ground is pure—free from desire, seeking, or action, devoid of any vows or volitional activities. Thus, it is said to be the unconditioned dharma.