成唯識論了義燈 5.20

5.20

One cannot say that physical matter serves as its support. In refuting the Sthaviravāda, it is said: The five consciousnesses rely on physical faculties, and the five consciousnesses lack conceptual discrimination; manovijñāna relies on physical faculties, [so] manovijñāna should lack conceptual discrimination. Challenging the Mahāyāna in return, they say: The eighth relies on the mental faculty, and the eighth lacks conceptual discrimination; what prevents the sixth from relying on a physical faculty while the manovijñāna possesses conceptual discrimination? The reply: The nature of physical matter is dull; relying on it, the five do not discriminate. The mental dharma is an eminent support; it must involve thought before it discriminates. The outsider challenges: The sixth relies on the mental faculty, and the sixth possesses conceptual discrimination; the eighth relies on the mental faculty, [so] should the eighth possess conceptual discrimination? The reply: The intrinsic nature of the eighth lacks clear discernment, so although it relies on the mental faculty, it does not discriminate. The intrinsic nature of the sixth has many capacities, and by additionally obtaining the mental support, it therefore discriminates. Question: What is present is called manas, and what has already ceased is designated with the name manas on this basis; what is present is also called vijñāna, so should what has already ceased also be called vijñāna on the basis of what is present? The reply: The name manas applies to two senses; having already ceased, it receives the name manas as a support. Consciousness only signifies discernment; having already ceased, it lacks capacity and is not called consciousness.