Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (211)

Supreme bodhi enables ordinary beings (pṛthagjana) and alien-born beings to equally realize the equal dharma-nature

Supreme bodhi enables ordinary beings and alien-born beings to realize the equal dharma-nature just like first-bhūmi bodhisattvas. What is meant by the equal dharma-nature? Does it mean that you, I, and he are three who are equal? No, it is not so. Sentient beings are not equal in terms of marks: there are male marks and female marks, human marks and animal marks, marks of wealth and nobility, marks of poverty and lowliness, marks of good people and marks of bad people. But there is one thing that is equal, namely, the tathatā mind-substance is equal. How is the mind equal? For example, the substance of the Ālayavijñāna equally coordinates with the deluded minds of the first seven consciousnesses, and equally manifests the myriad dharmas without the slightest difference—its substance and nature are equal. Although the marks are infinitely varied, the substance and nature of the Ālayavijñāna mind must be equal: it possesses the same functions, the same operations, and equally contains the six great seeds of earth, water, fire, wind, space, and consciousness, contains the seeds of the minds of the first seven consciousnesses, and the function of manifesting the myriad dharmas. The Ālayavijñāna of all sentient beings is the same—this is the equality of sentient beings.