第七識頌
帶質有覆通情本 隨緣執我量為非
此明第七識所緣乃托第八識之見分以為本質。是真帶質。此識雖非善惡性惟無記。而由俱生我執隱真理故名有覆。三界有情所以枉受輪迴不證涅槃。通以此執為本。故名為通情本。隨所生處必緣第八識之見分。妄執為我。故名為非量也。
This explains that the object of the seventh consciousness is the seeing-aspect of the eighth consciousness, which it takes as its core essence. This is “true perception with a substantial basis.” Although
八大徧行別境慧 貪癡我見慢相隨
Eight universal states of mind, with a mind-ground of specific discrimination— Clinging, ignorance, self-view, and arrogance always accompany them.
此明第七識相應之心所也。大隨有八。徧行有五。別境惟慧。根本則我貪．我癡．我見．我慢。惟此十八恒得相應。
恒審思量我相隨 有情日夜鎮昏迷
四惑八大相應起 六轉呼為染淨依
第八則恒而不審。第六則審而不恒。前五則不審不恒。惟此第七末那于有漏位恒審思量。非我執我。此妄執之我相無始隨逐無時暫捨。所以有情日夜昏迷不能自拔也。四惑即我貪．我癡．我見．我慢。八大即掉舉．惛沉等。前六轉識修施．戒等諸善行時。由此第七念念執我。令所修善不能亡相。故名染依。若此識轉為平等性智。則前六識所修諸行皆成無漏。名為淨依。所以前六轉識呼此第七識為染淨依也。
The eighth consciousness is constant but does not discriminate. The first six consciousnesses discriminate but are not constant. The first five are neither constant nor discriminating. Only this seventh consciousness—the manas—is both constant and discriminating in its defiled state. It continuously thinks and measures, mistaking what is not self for the self. This deluded grasping at a self has followed us since beginningless time, never letting go for a single moment. That is why sentient beings remain lost and confused day
極喜初心平等性 無功用行我恒摧
謂此第七末那無始妄執我法直行。菩薩初歡喜地。第六意識入二空觀。斷盡分別二執種子。亦伏俱生二執現行。此第七識方初得與平等性智相應。然由俱生我執未斷。所以出觀之後仍復執我。直入八地無功用行。方不復起現行我執也。
The seventh consciousness, the manas, has from beginningless time mistakenly adhered to a self and to phenomena. When a bodhisattva reaches the first ground, the Ground of Joy, the sixth consciousness enters the contemplation of the two emptinesses, completely cutting off the seeds of the discriminatory attachments to self and phenomena, and also suppressing the active manifestations of the innate attachments to self and phenomena. Only then does this seventh consciousness first begin to correspond with the wisdom of equality. However, because the innate attachment to self
如來現起他受用 十地菩薩所被機
謂四智菩提皆是如來自受用執身所攝。而用各不同。若為地上菩提所現他受用報身。則是平等性智之用。其所被機唯是十地菩薩也。