Evidence for the Non-Sharedness of the Eighth Consciousness

After sentient beings' eighth consciousness has cultivated for three immeasurable kalpas, the ignorance of the seven consciousnesses is completely eradicated, and the final transformation of consciousness into wisdom takes place: the seventh consciousness becomes the wisdom of equality (samatā-jñāna), the sixth consciousness becomes the wisdom of wondrous observation (pratyavekṣaṇā-jñāna), and the first five consciousnesses become the wisdom of accomplishing what is to be done (kṛtyānuṣṭhāna-jñāna). At the same time, the eighth consciousness is transformed into the great mirror-like wisdom (ādarśa-jñāna), which perfectly illuminates all dharmas, no longer limited, obstructed, or veiled by the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses. The eight consciousnesses together accomplish the Buddha Way, and this sentient being becomes a Buddha, having completed the path to Buddhahood of three great asaṃkhyeya kalpas, no longer needing to cultivate, becoming one beyond training (aśaikṣa), a venerable one of the three realms. As for other sentient beings who have not yet become Buddhas, their eighth consciousness has not yet been transformed into the great mirror-like wisdom; it still contains the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses and contains defilements—it is not the undefiled consciousness (amala-vijñāna). Their wisdom, virtues, and abilities are therefore veiled and obstructed by the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses, and cannot perfectly illuminate all dharmas. Thus it is said that sentient beings' eighth consciousness is not shared in common—each sentient being has one of its own, and it differs from the Buddha's eighth consciousness in both name and function. The Buddha's eighth consciousness has twenty-one mental factors (caittas): the five universal factors, the five object-specific factors, and the eleven wholesome factors; whereas sentient beings' eighth consciousness has only the five universal mental factors, so its functions are inferior to the Buddha's eighth consciousness, the undefiled consciousness (amala-vijñāna), and it is not the great mirror-like wisdom (ādarśa-jñāna).