Knowing Bodhi Through the Mental Activities of Sentient Beings

Knowing is Bodhi, indicating that the eighth consciousness, Bodhi, possesses knowing. Since it possesses knowing, it inherently possesses discernment and differentiation; otherwise, how could it know?

Understanding the mental activities of sentient beings means being able to discern their mental activities and thoughts. This demonstrates that the eighth consciousness possesses the nature of discernment, knowing the mental activities and thoughts of sentient beings. These sentient beings refer to two types: first, the five aggregates and seven consciousnesses personally upheld by the eighth consciousness itself—the directly perceived objects (ālambana-pratyaya) that it personally manifests and perceives, namely the seven consciousnesses and five aggregates; second, the seven consciousnesses and five aggregates that are not personally manifested or directly perceived by the eighth consciousness, but are the indirectly perceived objects (ālambana-pratyaya).

The eighth consciousness can perceive all dharmas, attend to, contact, feel, conceive, and think about all dharmas, and know all dharmas. Whether it is the directly perceived objects or the indirectly perceived objects, including other consciousnesses, all are ultimately the eighth consciousness. This means that the eighth consciousnesses can perceive each other and communicate. If there is anything unknown to the eighth consciousness, then the eighth consciousness would possess ignorance (avidyā), would not be liberated, and would not be a Buddha.

Therefore, when our seven consciousnesses act, not only does our own eighth consciousness know and store the seeds (bīja), but the eighth consciousnesses of other sentient beings also know and store the seeds.

For example, if you kill an animal, your own eighth consciousness witnesses the entire process, records it, and stores the seeds. That animal's eighth consciousness also witnesses it and stores the seeds. The eighth consciousnesses of any animals nearby who witness the event also witness the entire process and store seeds. However, in the future, when the seeds ripen due to conditions, it is your own eighth consciousness that manifests your karmic retribution. The animal’s eighth consciousness also projects the stored seeds, enabling the karmic retribution to form, whereby that animal may kill or harm you in return. Or, even if you do not encounter that animal in a future life, when this karmic condition ripens, you will still experience the retribution through the five sense faculties of that animal, resulting merely in illness or suffering. There are divine beings watching overhead from just three feet away; in truth, they are within half a foot above your scalp and beneath your skin, extremely close to you, never separated from you.