Abandoning Consciousness to Awaken the True Root

The Labyrinth of Perception and the Eight Consciousnesses

To understand the path of practice, we must first understand the nature of our own minds. Consciousness is composed of the six sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind). When these organs interact with the external six dusts—sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and phenomena—we generate the six corresponding consciousnesses: visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, and the sixth consciousness, which is the mind that engages in discrimination.

Beyond these, we must also consider the seventh consciousness, the Manas consciousness, which is the source of our deep-seated attachment. Finally, there is the eighth consciousness, the Alaya consciousness. Together, these form the eight consciousnesses that define our ordinary experience. Most people live by allowing their six roots to interact with the six dusts, which leads to the formation of consciousness, and ultimately, the creation of karma.

When we allow our minds to enter the sixth consciousness, we fall into the trap of discrimination. When we enter the seventh consciousness, we become ensnared by attachment. The eighth consciousness, the Alaya consciousness, acts like a vast warehouse. It stores every bit of information, every memory, and every experience from throughout your many lives. When you encounter a situation that resonates with the memories stored in this warehouse, you inadvertently awaken past karma. You become entangled with the past, and as this karmic force manifests, suffering inevitably follows.

This is why we are taught the importance of living in the present moment. To abandon consciousness means to stop summoning the memories and karmic seeds of the past. It means to stop letting the warehouse dictate your current reality.

The Luminous Path of Chanting

The most effective method to abandon consciousness is the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo. When your practice of chanting Namo Amituofo becomes powerful and focused, it begins to purify the eight consciousnesses. This process is known as transforming consciousness into wisdom. If you can successfully transform the Alaya consciousness into the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom, you will reach a state of absolute clarity. In that moment, you will see your true nature, and your mind will become a vast, luminous treasury of light.

Awakening the True Self

Most people live their lives governed by consciousness; they allow their delusion, discrimination, and attachment to take the lead. Consequently, they remain trapped within the cycle of karmic cause and effect. However, those who have realised their true nature live differently. They have transformed consciousness into wisdom, which is the very essence of transforming karma. Instead of relying on the habitual patterns of the past, they live in the present moment using the root of their six sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind)—the spirit of clear, sensitive awareness. This is what it means to let your true self take charge.

Those who have realised their true nature possess the wisdom of Prajna. This wisdom is profound: it is a state of knowing without knowing, yet being aware of everything. It is a life of autonomy, freedom, and coolness, unburdened by the entanglements of the past. They take the salvation of all beings as their own responsibility. At Hsiang Kuang: A Sacred Sanctuary, this means walking alongside the Buddha, helping all beings leave suffering behind, and guiding them toward rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo.