Transformation of Eight Consciousnesses from the Yogacara (四智 catvāri jñānāni)
Notes from Lotus’ Dharma Talk on October 28, 2023
The way of knowing of the great reflecting mirror –mind clears
The way of knowing equality – mind without afflictions
The way of knowing of clear observation – absent of efforts
The way of knowing perfected action – all is ok
Five, six, seven, eight: the resulting fruits of planted seeds movements
It only uses labels, not the true nature of reality
If knowing moves without attachments
Amidst bustling activities, stillness liberates.
Alaya-vijnana storehouse consciousness converts to knowing of the perfected mirror.
Manas-vijnana consciousness (discriminating ego) converts to knowing of
equanimity
Thinking/ discriminating mind converts to knowing of clear observation
Five other consciousness transforms to knowing of perfected action (or the
perfected mirror knowing in the sense-consciousness)
The nature of knowing (Citta) (thức) is wisdom (trí). When it doesn’t know itself, it is
deluded by phenomena of consciousness deluded with its factors, it is knowing in
a dualistic manner. When knowing knows itself and is liberated from attachments
to all phenomena of itself, it is transformed into wisdom.
The essence of knowing nature (thể) is the absolute reality of unmoving stillness
amidst all the busy activities or functions (dụng) of everyday life.
This Mind (Citta) has two aspects – the Mind as Suchness or Thusness, that is,
Absolute Reality itself, and the Mind as phenomena, a collection of the eight-
consciousness described in the Yogacara. Between them, these two aspects
embrace all there is… The essential nature of the knowing mind is unborn,
imperishable, and beyond language.
Zen meditation focuses on realizing the absolute nature of the mind or non-dual
way of knowing. But it cannot do so without observing and understanding its
functions and phenomenon, the Yogacara’s consciousnesses.