宗鏡錄 53.46

53.46

答。第六識具廣略十種分別。前五識唯自性。任運。二種分別。五識於自境界。任運轉故。第七識具計度。染污有相。三種分別。第八識同前五識。得有自性任運分別。若自性任運分別自現量。若計度染污無相分別。唯比非二量。若有相分別。一分緣現在者。通三量。一分緣過去者。唯比非二量。若隨念分別。無漏。即是現量。若有漏。即比非二量。

Answer: The sixth consciousness possesses both the extensive and summary ten kinds of discrimination. The first five consciousnesses possess only two kinds of discrimination: essential nature and spontaneous, because the five consciousnesses operate spontaneously within their own objective spheres. The seventh consciousness possesses three kinds of discrimination: calculative, defiled, and with characteristics. The eighth consciousness, like the first five consciousnesses, can possess essential nature and spontaneous discrimination. If it is essential nature or spontaneous discrimination, it is of the nature of direct perception. If it is calculative, defiled, or uncharacterized discrimination, it is only of the nature of inference or non-valid cognition. If it is discrimination with characteristics: the portion that takes the present as object extends across all three means of cognition; the portion that takes the past as object is only inference or non-valid cognition. If it is recollective discrimination: when undefiled, it is direct perception; when defiled, it is inference or non-valid cognition.