宗鏡錄 51.13

51.13

Answer: The Mahāyānasaṃgraha says: 'If the fundamental consciousness and the non-fundamental consciousnesses arise together and cease together, just like water and milk mixed together, how is it that the fundamental consciousness does not cease, while the non-fundamental consciousnesses cease? It is like the milk drunk from water by a swan.'

The commentary explains: 'For example, although water and milk are mixed together, when a swan drinks, it drinks only the milk and does not drink the water; therefore, although the milk is exhausted, the water is not depleted. The fundamental consciousness and the non-fundamental consciousnesses are also like this: although they are conjoined, one ceases and one remains.'