眾生無邊誓願度
煩惱無盡誓願斷
法門無量誓願學
佛道無上誓願成

Master Sheng-Ru Website Logo

Dharma Teachings

30 Nov 2020    Monday     1st Teach Total 2852

The Difference between Pariniṣpanna and the Perfected Nature (Pariniṣpanna-svabhāva)

The six consciousnesses and the five sense faculties and six sense objects are of parikalpita... rather, of paratantra nature (dependence on others): the nature of these phenomena and principles arises in reliance upon other dharmas; they are not autonomous and cannot exist independently. "Nature" means the character or property of phenomena and principles; where the word "nature" is absent, it refers to the phenomena and principles themselves. The seventh consciousness, the manas, is of imputed nature (parikalpita-svabhāva); the manas itself is a consciousness that is imputed and grasped.

The substance of the eighth consciousness can perfectly accomplish all dharmas, enabling all dharmas to manifest as they truly are, existing in their natural state. Thus the eighth consciousness possesses perfected nature (pariniṣpanna-svabhāva). As for all dharmas other than the eighth consciousness, they are all perfectly accomplished and brought forth by the eighth consciousness through the seeds within itself, and they all carry the nature of the eighth consciousness; it can also be provisionally said that they possess perfected nature. Whether perfected nature refers to the nature of the substance of the eighth consciousness, or to the nature of the various dharmas, must be determined according to the context and judged in accordance with the meaning. In any case, it is all real nature, true nature, suchness, genuine suchness, the fundamental nature.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
PreviousPrevious

Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (35)

Next Next

The Power of the Manas

Back to Top