2110 Verse 3436-3437

Original

परबोधात्मनियतं चेतो यदि हि सम्भवेत् ।
तदाऽसिद्धोपलम्भत्वादर्थवित्तिर्न सम्भवेत् ॥ ३४३६ ॥
तस्मात्स्वसंवेदनात्मत्वं चेतसोऽस्ति प्रकाशनात् ।
अनारोपितरूपा च स्वसंवित्तिरियं स्थिता ॥ ३४३७ ॥

parabodhātmaniyataṃ ceto yadi hi sambhavet |
tadā’siddhopalambhatvādarthavittirna sambhavet || 3436 ||
tasmātsvasaṃvedanātmatvaṃ cetaso’sti prakāśanāt |
anāropitarūpā ca svasaṃvittiriyaṃ sthitā || 3437 ||

If consciousness were restricted to the cognition of something apart from itself, then, as it itself would not be cognised, there could be no cognition of things. Consequently consciousness has to be regarded as essentially ‘self-cognised’, specially because it is illuminative. Hence this consciousness remains as something free from all imposition.—(3436-3437)

Kamalaśīla

Question:—“How is it known that the second qualification, ‘which is of the same essence as the Perception of Truth’, belongs to Consciousness?”

Answer:—[see verses 3436-3437 above]

Primarily, the most important form of Consciousness consists in self-cognition;—this has to be admitted by all parties. Otherwise, if Consciousness were cognised by another cognition, then, as its own apprehension would be impossible, there could be no cognition of things. Consequently ‘self-illumination’ is the most important character of Consciousness. This‘self’ of the Consciousness is something entirely ephemeral; hence, by implication, it follows that Consciousness is of the nature of the ‘Perception of Truth’.—(3436-3437)