宗鏡錄 53.46

53.46

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.