唯識二十論述記 1.53

1.53

答：如《攝論》言：一類菩薩說：八識體唯是一物，有一類師說有多體，今依後義。《成唯識論》第七卷說：「八識自性，不可言定一。行相、所依、緣、相應異故；又一滅時，餘不滅故；能、所熏等，相各異故。亦非定異，經說八識如水波等，無差別故，定異應非因果性故，如幻事等，無定性故。依理世俗，說有八別，非真勝義。真勝義中，心言絕故。」此顯八識，體非即非離。《入楞迦經》伽陀中說：心、意、識八種，俗故相有別，真故相無別，相、所相無故。若依一類說體唯一，於世俗諦，體亦非多。此言俗故相有別者，依用而說。此中八識諸門分別，如《成唯識》第二、三卷等；第八識以十門分別，如第四、五卷等；第七識亦十門分別，如第五、六卷等；餘六識以九門分別。

Answer: As the Mahāyānasaṃgraha says: one group of bodhisattvas asserts that the substance of the eight consciousnesses is only a single entity, while another group of masters asserts that they have manifold substances. Now we rely on the latter meaning. The seventh fascicle of the Cheng weishi lun states: "The intrinsic nature of the eight consciousnesses cannot be said to be definitely one, because their cognitive aspects, supports, objects, and associates differ; furthermore, when one ceases, the others do not cease; and their aspects such as perfumer and perfumed are distinct. Nor are they definitely different, because the sūtras state that the eight consciousnesses are without distinction, like water and waves; because if they were definitely different, they could not have the nature of cause and effect; and because, like illusory creations, they lack a fixed nature. In accordance with rational conventional truth, eight distinct [consciousnesses] are spoken of, but not in true ultimate truth. In true ultimate truth, mind and speech are severed." This shows that the substance of the eight consciousnesses is neither identical nor separate. A gāthā in the Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra says: "The eight kinds of citta, manas, and vijñāna are distinct in characteristics conventionally, but without distinction in characteristics ultimately, because characteristics and that which is characterized are non-existent." If one relies on the view that their substance is solely one, then even in conventional truth their substance is not manifold. The statement that "they are distinct in characteristics conventionally" is made in terms of function. The distinctions among the eight consciousnesses according to various categories here are as in the second and third fascicles of the Cheng weishi lun, etc.; the eighth consciousness is analyzed by ten categories, as in the fourth and fifth fascicles, etc.; the seventh consciousness is also analyzed by ten categories, as in the fifth and sixth fascicles, etc.; the remaining six consciousnesses are analyzed by nine categories.