Lectures on the Fu-Zi-He-Ji Sutra (211)

Supreme Bodhi Enables Ordinary Beings and Sentient Creatures to Realize the Equality of Dharma-Nature

Supreme Bodhi enables ordinary beings and sentient creatures to realize the equality of Dharma-nature just like a first-ground bodhisattva. What is meant by the equality of Dharma-nature? Does it imply equality among "you," "me," and "him"? No. Sentient beings are not equal in terms of appearances: there are male and female appearances, human and animal appearances, appearances of wealth and poverty, appearances of good and evil people. However, one thing is equal: the true suchness mind-essence is equal. How is the mind equal? For example, the mind-substance of the ālaya-vijñāna equally cooperates with the deluded minds of the first seven consciousnesses, equally manifests all dharmas without the slightest difference; its intrinsic nature is equal. Although appearances are infinitely varied, the intrinsic nature of the ālaya-vijñāna mind is certainly equal, possessing identical functions, identical roles, identically containing the six great seeds of earth, water, fire, wind, space, and consciousness, containing the seeds of the first seven consciousnesses, and the function of manifesting all dharmas. The ālaya-vijñāna of all sentient beings is the same; this is the equality of sentient beings.