成唯識論述記 5.72

5.72

The Commentary states: Below is the second part: the objection that form and mind would be indistinct. In this there are two: 1. objecting that there is no distinction; 2. resolving the contradiction. This is the first. The number of the eight consciousnesses co-arising is variable, as stated in the fifty-first fascicle [of the Yogācārabhūmi] and elsewhere. The eighth consciousness co-arises with one consciousness, or up to seven, and so on; if, as previously stated, they could mutually act as conditions, material form should also be thus, with its quantity variable. Regarding 'equal' (sama): first, equality of essence; second, equality of function. Equality of essence means that before and after there is one single dharma; just as the mind is only one, up to sensation (vedanā) and so on also being only one; arising immediately in succession, without any other mind of its own category intervening, it is therefore called 'immediate' (anantara). If one mind were permitted to be the condition for multiple minds, it should not be 'equal', just like form and so on. If they should further say that form is like mind and the like, admitting that it is an equal-and-immediate condition—