Samdhinirmocana-sutra

Chapter IIIThe Descriptive Marks of Mind,Thought, and [Sense] ConsciousnessAt that time the Bodhisattva Visalamati addressed the Buddhaand said: "World-honored One, you have spoken about bodhisattvasskilled in the secrets of mind, thought, and [sense] consciousness.Why do you speak of these bodhisattvas as being skilled in thesecrets of mind, thought, and [sense] consciousness? What do youmean by describing them in this fashion?"Then the World-honored One addressed the BodhisattvaVisalamati and said: "It is very good, Visalamati, that you areable to question the Tathagata about this profound theme. Youraise this question because you desire to benefit and gladden unlimitedsentient beings, because you have compassion for theworld and all its gods, men, angels, and so forth, so that they maybe led to realize meaning, benefit, and happiness. Attend, then,and I will explain the meaning of the secrets of mind, thought,and [sense] consciousness."Visalamati, you should understand that sundry sentient beingsfall into sundry destinies in their transmigrations throughthe six destinies. Whether egg-born, womb-born, moisture-born,or magically born, they issue from birth. From the very first instant[of their births], the maturation, evolution, unification, increase,and growth of their minds, together with all their seeds,depend upon two appropriations. The first is their appropriationof the material senses in the body. The second is their appropriationof the propensity toward verbal fabrication in discriminating692b27