Whether the Eighth Consciousness Is the Last to Depart and the First to Arrive

The eighth consciousness can neither go last nor come first. Otherwise, the eighth consciousness would be able to operate alone in the three realms, and the seventh consciousness, the manas, would also be able to operate alone in the three realms. Yet this is impossible: neither the true mind nor the deluded mind can operate alone; they must operate together in coalescence. If the seventh consciousness could operate alone, it would not need the eighth consciousness to give birth to it and hold it—then it would have an intrinsic self-nature and would be a dharma that is unborn and unceasing. If the eighth consciousness could operate alone, then nirvāṇa without remainder would not be tranquil, for the dharmas of the three realms could still be brought forth; nirvāṇa without remainder would then be clamorous, and clamor would not be liberation.