Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (211)

Supreme bodhi enables ordinary beings and worldlings to equally realize the equal nature of dharma

Supreme bodhi enables ordinary beings and worldlings to realize the equal nature of dharma just as a first-bhūmi bodhisattva does. What is the equal nature of dharma? Does it mean that you, I, and he are three equals? No. Sentient beings are not equal in terms of marks: there are male marks and female marks, human marks and animal marks, marks of wealth and nobility and marks of poverty and lowliness, marks of good people and marks of bad people. But there is one thing that is equal, namely, the true-suchness mind essence is equal. How is the mind equal? For example, the essence of the ālayavijñāna equally cooperates with the deluded minds of the first seven consciousnesses, and equally manifests all dharmas without the slightest difference—its essence is equal. Although the marks are infinitely varied, the essential nature of the ālayavijñāna mind must be equal: it possesses the same functions, the same operations, and equally contains the six great seeds of earth, water, fire, wind, space, and consciousness, as well as the seeds of the minds of the first seven consciousnesses and the capacity to manifest all dharmas. The ālayavijñāna of all sentient beings is the same—this is the equality of sentient beings.