The Non-Self Nature of All Phenomena (I)

Dharma encompasses all phenomena and principles existing within and beyond the mundane world, objects that can be cognized, perceived, experienced, and discriminated by the seven consciousnesses, including a fundamental principle, truth, or meaning. There are actual dharmas and illusory dharmas; true dharmas and false dharmas; conditioned dharmas and unconditioned dharmas; compounded dharmas and uncompounded dharmas; material dharmas (rūpa) composed of the four great elements; mental dharmas (citta) consisting of concepts and ideas not composed of the four elements; dharmas as vast as the universe, the void, the ten directions, and the immeasurable and boundless Buddha-lands; and dharmas so subtle they are invisible to the naked eye. There are dharmas perceivable even by the deluded sentient beings of the three evil destinies, and there are dharmas knowable only by the Buddha's boundless wisdom and unparalleled wisdom.

Among these dharmas, except for the immaculate consciousness of Suchness and the great perfect mirror wisdom of the Buddhas, which are dharmas possessing the real and eternal nature of Self, all others lack the nature of Self. Therefore, for sentient beings, all dharmas are without Self. Self is real, unconditioned, unproduced and unceasing, unchanging, free from suffering, pure and undefiled, and indestructible—that is, possessing the qualities of eternal, blissful, self, and pure. Dharmas lacking these intrinsic natures are dharmas without Self.

Although the eighth consciousness of sentient beings is the true Self and true mind, unproduced and unceasing, it still contains the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses which undergo production, cessation, and change. Therefore, it is not entirely the Self. It is still without the nature of Self because it lacks the capacity for self-cognition; it does not know its own existence and has no self-view. Unlike the mental faculty (manas) and the mental consciousness, which can always perceive the existence of self, constantly preoccupied with "I, I, I," clinging tenaciously to self, considering issues primarily from the perspective of "what shall I do," "how am I," and subconsciously promoting oneself, making others aware of oneself, value oneself, and praise oneself.

The eighth consciousness, however, has no selfish mind or ego-mind; it does not know of its own existence. Consequently, it never considers or plans for itself, let alone promotes or shows off to make sentient beings understand and value it. It has never contended with sentient beings over any benefit, right or wrong, superiority or inferiority. Such a mind is a mind without the nature of Self. It never asserts mastery in any matter, completely follows conditions, and clings to no dharma in its mind. The seven consciousnesses are the opposite: replete with greed, hatred, delusion, arrogance, doubt, and wrong views, they universally conceptualize, measure, and cling to all dharmas, asserting mastery constantly, everywhere, and in everything, with a strong sense of self-nature.