三能變

According to Fa-hsiang's doctrine, all sentient beings and non-sentient matters are manifestations of consciousnesses. The seeing portion is the ability to be conscious and aware, while the seen portion is the phenomena in the entire world. Both portions are the integrated manifestation of the eight consciousnesses. These eight consciousnesses can be classified into three groups with respect to its characteristic of manifestation of the object-domains ( 境 ). It is known as Three Manifestation Potentials.

1. Primary Manifestation ( 初能變 ) -- also known as Ripening Manifestation ( 異熟能變 ). It refers to the 'seeds' in Ālaya consciousness. When they come across the causal conditions that advance or enhance to a higher state, it will then manifest to object-domains.
2. Secondary Manifestation ( 次能變 ) -- also known as Thinking Manifestation ( 思量能變 ). It refers to the Manas consciousness. Though the seeds are ripened to manifest, they must rely on the Manas consciousness to think and create a virtual 'self', so as to realize the 'existence' of the relative object-domains.
3. Third Manifestation ( 第三能變 ) -- also known as Discriminative Manifestation ( 了別能變 ). It refers to the first six consciousnesses. All phenomena and object-domains (six dusts) can only be recognized and discriminated by the six sense organs. Just like sleeping, we are not aware of any 'existence' as our sense organs do not function.