The Non-Abiding of the Deluded Mind in the Seven Consciousnesses

All dharmas are categorized as inherent and acquired, including the non-abiding mind, the mind of equanimity, the concentrated mind, the mind of wisdom, the awakened mind, and so forth. The inherently non-abiding mind is the Tathāgatagarbha, the eighth consciousness Ālayavijñāna, the true suchness of self-nature. It does not require any effort by anyone to make it non-abiding; it has always been non-abiding—at any time, in any place, within the functioning of all dharmas.

The acquired non-abiding mind pertains to the deluded mind of the seven consciousnesses. However, it is extremely difficult for the deluded mind of the seven consciousnesses to achieve non-abiding. It requires not only meditative concentration but also precepts and great wisdom. For the seven consciousnesses to become truly, completely, and thoroughly non-abiding, like the Tathāgatagarbha, this is only possible after attaining Buddhahood. A more evident state of non-abiding is achieved at the eighth bodhisattva ground, or in earlier stages, after the first bodhisattva ground where consciousness is turned into wisdom. Apart from this, at the very minimum, one must cultivate to the level of the first dhyāna or second dhyāna and above, relying on meditative concentration to temporarily subdue deluded agitation, causing the sixth consciousness and the manas (the seventh consciousness) not to dwell on or to dwell less on the objects of the six dusts (sense fields). Such abiding can be termed acquired non-abiding, but it is not reliable and can be extinguished.