Dalai Lama
Whoever we are, delusions do not manifest within us all the time. We sometimes generate anger and sometimes generate love toward the same object, which ought not to be possible if things have inherent existence.
This clearly shows that the real nature of the mind itself is pure, but due to mental factors that accompany the mind, it sometimes appears to have a virtuous quality like love and at other times appears in a deluded form like anger. The nature of the mind is therefore neutral, but being dependent on accompanying mental factors, it may change from a virtuous to a nonvirtuous mind.
Mind by nature is clear light and the defilements or delusions are temporary and adventitious. This indicates that if we practice and cultivate virtuous qualities, the mind can be transformed positively. On the other hand, if the mind encounters delusions, then it will take on the form of delusions. Therefore, all qualities such as the ten powers of the Buddha can also be attained.
The different kinds of consciousness have the same quality of understanding and knowing their object clearly, but when a particular consciousness encounters some obstacle, it may not be able to perceive its object. Although eye consciousness has the potential to see an object, if I cover the object, eye consciousness will be obstructed from seeing the object. Similarly, eye consciousness may not be able to see the object because it is too far away.
Mind too already has the full potential to understand all phenomena, a quality that need not be strengthened but that may be obstructed by other factors.
With the attainment of the higher qualities of a Buddha, like the ten powers, we attain omniscience that is able to see all phenomena clearly and completely. This state can be attained by recognizing the real nature of the mind and removing all delusions and obstructions from it.
