Evidence of the Unshared Nature of the Eighth Consciousness

After cultivating for three immeasurable kalpas, the eighth consciousness of sentient beings exhausts the ignorance of the seven consciousnesses. In the final transformation of consciousness into wisdom, the seventh consciousness becomes the Wisdom of Equality, the sixth consciousness becomes the Wisdom of Marvelous Observation, and the first five consciousnesses become the Wisdom of Accomplishing What Is to Be Done. Simultaneously, the eighth consciousness transforms into the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom, perfectly illuminating all dharmas, no longer obstructed or obscured by the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses. The eight consciousnesses collectively accomplish the Buddha Way, and this sentient being attains Buddhahood, having completed the path to Buddhahood spanning the three great asamkhyeya kalpas. No longer needing cultivation, they become the non-learner, the Honored One of the Three Realms. For other sentient beings who have not attained Buddhahood, their eighth consciousness has not yet transformed into the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom. It still contains the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses, is tainted, and is not the immaculate consciousness. Their wisdom, virtues, and abilities are thus obscured and hindered by the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses, unable to perfectly illuminate all dharmas. Therefore, it is said that the eighth consciousness of sentient beings is not shared; each sentient being possesses their own. It differs in name and function from the Buddha's eighth consciousness. The Buddha's eighth consciousness possesses twenty-one mental factors: the five universal factors, the five object-specific factors, and the eleven wholesome factors. In contrast, the eighth consciousness of sentient beings possesses only the five universal mental factors. Its functions and efficacy are thus inferior to the Buddha's eighth consciousness, the immaculate consciousness, and it is not the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom.