All Sages and Saints Differ in Their Attainment of the Non-Active Dharma

Question: How should one understand the phrase from the Diamond Sutra, "All sages and saints differ due to the unconditioned dharma"?

Answer: The unconditioned state of Arhats and Pratyekabuddhas involves extinguishing the five aggregates (skandhas) and ceasing all activities associated with them. They do not engage in any deeds to benefit sentient beings, nor do they aspire to further cultivate the Buddha path. While living in the human realm, they mostly abide in meditative concentration, seldom engage in worldly affairs, and their minds remain unattached to any realm. In contrast, the unconditioned state of Bodhisattvas involves realizing the unconditioned eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna). Based on this unconditioned eighth consciousness, they engage in conditioned practices of studying the Buddha Dharma and performing deeds to benefit sentient beings. Thus, while engaging in conditioned meritorious deeds, they simultaneously strive to minimize their conditioned nature, ultimately performing conditioned Buddhist activities with an unconditioned mind-nature. They dwell within the three realms without attachment to the dharmas of the three realms. This unconditioned state far surpasses that of Arhats and Pratyekabuddhas. This is the meaning of "All sages and saints differ due to the unconditioned dharma": their mental activities and conduct differ fundamentally. One seeks liberation from suffering for oneself alone, while the other seeks liberation from suffering for both oneself and all sentient beings, aspiring for both oneself and all sentient beings to attain Buddhahood.