The Six Consciousnesses Lack Intrinsic Nature

The six consciousnesses lack self-nature; they cannot determine anything about themselves nor be their own master. Because the six consciousnesses are dharmas that are born, they are without inherent substance and lack autonomy. Their apparent functions and operations are all bestowed by the Tathāgatagarbha and originate from it. If all dharmas possess self-nature, that self-nature also originates from the Tathāgatagarbha; objectively speaking, it is also the self-nature of the Tathāgatagarbha. The source of the defilement of the six consciousnesses lies in the manas (mental faculty), originating from the manas. If the manas is defiled, the six consciousnesses are necessarily defiled; if the manas is pure, the six consciousnesses are necessarily pure. The manas is the defiled and pure dependence (āśraya) for the six consciousnesses. The arising and manifestation of all dharmas necessarily involve the accompaniment of the seventh and eighth consciousnesses; it is the result of the operation of the seventh and eighth consciousnesses.