Visuddhimagga XV-32

521. Apica vijānanasabhāve viññāṇe jīvasaññīnaṃ saññāsamūhananatthampi aṭṭhāraseva vuttā. Santi hi sattā vijānanasabhāve viññāṇe jīvasaññino, tesaṃ cakkhusotaghānajivhākāyamanodhātumanoviññāṇadhātubhedena tassa anekataṃ cakkhurūpādipaccayāyattavuttitāya aniccatañca pakāsetvā dīgharattānusayitaṃ jīvasaññaṃ samūhanitukāmena bhagavatā aṭṭhārasa dhātuyo pakāsitā.

也是为了欲除有人于有知识的自性的识中而起的命想，所以这样说。即因为有于知识的自性的识中而作命想的有情，世尊为了欲使他们断灭长时所怀的命想，指明有眼识界、耳识界、鼻识界、舌识界、身识界、意界、意识界等多识的差别，并且它们是依止于眼及色等的缘而起作用，是无常的，所以佛说十八界。

Ñ(XV,32): Furthermore, they are stated as eighteen for the purpose of eliminating the kind of perception to be found in those who perceive a soul in consciousness, the individual essence of which is cognizing; for there are beings who perceive a soul in consciousness, the individual essence of which is cognizing. And so the Blessed One, who was desirous of eliminating the long-inherent perception of a soul, has expounded the eighteen elements thus making evident to them not only consciousness's multiplicity when classed as eye-, ear- nose- tongue- and body-consciousness elements, and mind, and mind-consciousness elements, but also its impermanence, which is due to its existing in dependence on eye-cum-visible-data, etc., as conditions.