大乘起信論內義略探記 1.40

1.40

Fourth, questions and answers: Question: Why are the five consciousnesses not mentioned? Answer: This śāstra speaks according to one mental consciousness; it is only the mind that is said to exclusively discriminate the six sense-objects. Therefore the śāstra says: "Engaging in various false clingings according to phenomena, discriminating the six sense-objects, is named 'mental consciousness.'" It is also named 'isolating consciousness' because, relying upon the six sense-faculties, it separately apprehends the six sense-objects. Furthermore, as the consciousness of phenomena, it can discriminate various phenomena of past and future, internal and external.