Everyone has eight distinct minds

# Everyone has eight distinct minds ###### tags: `Buddhism` `Consciousness` According to the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, every one of us has eight distinct minds. In Buddhist scriptures, these eight minds are usually called the “eight consciousnesses,” with the word “consciousness” defined as the function of awareness and discernment. The eye-consciousness, our sight, detects and differentiates colors and visual objects. The ear-consciousness, our hearing, detects and differentiates sounds. The nose-consciousness, our smell, detects and differentiates odors. The tongue-consciousness, our taste, detects and differentiates flavors. The body-consciousness, our touch, detects and differentiates physical sensations. The sixth consciousness is the mental consciousness, or what we usually think of as the mind. The mental consciousness has a variety of functions, such as deliberation, memorization, analysis, inference, and abstract thinking. It can also receive and analyze all the information collected by the five sense consciousnesses. > 我練習「觀功念恩，代人著想，歷事鍊心」的意念應該為第六意識，造作的意識 > [name=Kuang Kao's imagination] Most of us have not heard of the seventh consciousness. In Buddhist scriptures, it's called the manasconsciousness. The manas-consciousness is quite special because it makes decisions and gives orders. In everyday life, for instance, it is this mind that decides one should go to bed, take a walk, eat, wash, etc. But since the way it works is rather subtle, we usually are unaware of its presence. > 這很有可能是潛意識（subconsciousness）/習慣，為第七意識，不知不覺（不造作）的意識 > [name=Kuang Kao's imagination] The eighth consciousness is the most special and enigmatic. It is known in Buddhism as the ālaya-consciousness, the foundational consciousness, or the Buddha-Essence. It is like a powerful video recorder that can keep account of **every little thing we do.** We are totally oblivious to its existence, yet it is the foundational mind-entity of our being. > 往生後，只剩下第八意識，過去累生累劫（包含這一世）所造善業及諸惡業全部現起，而會依照這全部現起的狀態找到相應的「狀態維度/空間」，也就是所謂的六道，或脫輪迴，進入菩薩，最終在成佛！ > [name=Kuang Kao's imagination] In summary, the first six consciousnesses perceive and distinguish what is going on around us. The seventh consciousness decides and gives orders regarding everything at all times. The eighth consciousness impartially records and stores an individual's every single action. If the body and mind were thought of as a huge corporation, these eight consciousnesses would be sort of like the CEO, general manager, supervisor, and receptionists and staffs who run its operation. If they do not work together in perfect harmony, we cannot live a normal life in this world. ## Reference Book - [The Eight Wondrous Minds](https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Wondrous-Minds-Sheng-Chen/dp/1945892064) (p.5 - p.17) written by [Yi Sheng Zi Chen](https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AYi+Sheng+Zi+Chen&s=relevancerank&text=Yi+Sheng+Zi+Chen&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1) ![](https://i.imgur.com/0ykJjFf.jpg)