Multiple Names of Reality-suchness

The notion of reality-suchness (C: Zhēnrú;真如) has been referred to under multiple names during the cultivation process of the Buddha Dharma, from the stage of an ordinary person to the Buddha Ground. In summary, it consists of three stages: (i) the Seventh Ground and Third Fruition and below, called ālaya-vijñāna (C: Ā lài yé shí;阿賴耶識); (ii) the Eighth Ground and above, arhats, and pratyekabuddhas, called the vipāka-consciousness (S: vipāka-vijñāna; C: Yì shú shí, 異熟識 or S: amala-vijñāna; C: ān mó luó shí, 菴摩羅識); and (iii) the ultimate Buddha Ground, called the immaculate consciousness (C: Wúgòu shí無垢識) or reality-suchness. This single entity has three names. The ālaya dharma body has existed since beginningless time and is eternally indestructible. Its intrinsic nature is pure but contains defiled seeds. One needs to listen to and cultivate the Buddha Dharma to purify and eliminate the defiled seeds to attain Buddhahood. As such, the Flower Garland Sutra says, “The reality-suchness is not to be cultivated, nor is it not to be cultivated,” and “The reality-suchness is the state of the Buddha realm.”[1]

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Footnote:

[1]「譬如真如非是可修，非不可修。」;「譬如真如是佛境界。」《華嚴經》