The Meaning of All Phenomena Are Consciousness-Only

All dharmas are consciousness-only (sarvaṃ vijñānam), which refers not only to the sole eighth consciousness, the tathāgatagarbha, but also includes the first six consciousnesses and the seventh consciousness. These three kinds of transformative-agency (parināma) consciousnesses together and in harmony manifest all dharmas of the three-realm world. However, the source of all dharmas is the eighth consciousness; only the eighth consciousness contains and stores the seeds of all dharmas. For these seeds to produce all dharmas, the cooperation of the second transformative-agency consciousness, the seventh consciousness (manas), is required, as well as the cooperation of the third transformative-agency consciousness, the six consciousnesses; only then can the eighth consciousness produce all dharmas. If there were only the eighth consciousness, with the first seven consciousnesses not participating, the eighth consciousness alone could not transform and create any dharmas—just like the state of Nirvāṇa without remainder (Anupadhiśeṣa-nirvāṇa).

If there were only the sixth and seventh consciousnesses, they would be even less able to create any dharmas, because without the eighth consciousness, the seven consciousnesses could not exist at all, let alone be of any use. Only when the eight consciousnesses operate together in harmony can all dharmas be accomplished. The nature of the eighth consciousness is utterly different from that of the seven consciousnesses; they cannot transform into one another. The seven consciousnesses are forever of a nature of arising and ceasing, while the eighth consciousness never arises nor ceases. Regardless of whether the seven consciousnesses are defiled or pure, the eighth consciousness, true suchness (tathatā), the tathāgatagarbha, the undefiled consciousness (amala-vijñāna), and the great mirror-like wisdom (ādarśa-jñāna) are forever one single mind-substance, which in itself has no defiled nature.