When Hearing Sounds, One Should Recognize the True Mind, the Eighth Consciousness

When we hear sounds, the ear consciousness is involved, the mental consciousness is involved, and simultaneously the seventh consciousness and the eighth consciousness are also involved. These four consciousnesses are all formless and without characteristics. To attain enlightenment while hearing sounds, one must clearly distinguish which is the eighth consciousness, which is the seventh consciousness, which is the mental consciousness, and which is the ear consciousness. Within the combined functioning of these consciousnesses, it is essential to differentiate between the true mind and the deluded mind. After making this distinction, one must recognize and apprehend that true mind—this is what is meant by realizing the mind and attaining enlightenment.

If one lacks sufficient merit, meditative stability, and wisdom, it is easy to mistake the deluded for the true, erroneously taking the mental consciousness as the true eighth consciousness to be realized. When one realizes the mental consciousness, there may be a feeling of emptiness, a temporary inner tranquility, an ability to view worldly affairs and phenomena as empty, a slight understanding of Buddhist scriptures, and an ability to apply the principle of emptiness. However, such a person will never know how the eighth consciousness specifically gives rise to the five aggregates, the seven consciousnesses, and all phenomena. Those who have realized incorrectly absolutely will not know this. This is the dividing line between true enlightenment and mistaken enlightenment—a minute deviation leads to an error of a thousand miles.

Both the mental consciousness and the eighth consciousness are formless and without characteristics, and they share certain similarities. Ordinary people, when their mental consciousness becomes slightly tranquil—free from distracting thoughts and mental fluctuations, able to perceive all internal and external states clearly and lucidly—mistake this lucid state of the mental consciousness for the originally thoughtless and unknowing pure eighth consciousness. In this way, they mistake the true master. No matter how lucid or unknowing the mental consciousness may seem, as long as the mental consciousness exists, there is a knowing that perceives the six sense objects. Or, if the mental consciousness attains stability, there is a knowing that perceives the state of stability. Therefore, it is not the eighth consciousness, nor is it true enlightenment. It is merely that one’s own mental consciousness is somewhat ignorant and finds it difficult to introspect upon its own state at that moment. Thus, one mistakes this for the unknowing nature of the eighth consciousness and claims to have realized the eighth consciousness. What a profound misunderstanding this is.

In reality, when the mental consciousness becomes extremely subtle, its introspective power also becomes very weak. Moreover, because Buddhists do not understand the nature of the mental consciousness, the phenomenon of mistaking the mental consciousness for the true eighth consciousness is exceedingly common. Nowadays, there are people everywhere who believe they are enlightened. Yet, after many years, their wisdom remains at the original level, stagnant and unimproved. They still cannot comprehend Chan (Zen) koans and cannot understand the sutras.

Therefore, I advise those Buddhists who believe they are already enlightened: for the sake of your own matter of life and death, quickly turn back and examine what exactly you have realized. Check it against the sutras. Reanalyze and discern the nature of the mental consciousness and the nature of the eighth consciousness with careful scrutiny. Strictly differentiate the various distinctions between the true mind and the deluded mind. Then, diligently strive to perfect and fulfill the essential conditions required to be a bodhisattva. After you have fully met all the necessary conditions to be a bodhisattva, return once more to the practice of Chan meditation, seeking to truly enter the gate of Buddhism and become a bodhisattva of true meaning.