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Store Consciousness – The Key to Karma and Rebirth
Moreover, when one falls from higher realms such as the realm of non-perception, the consciousness at the very moment of birth will have no seeds, even though it has already been defiled by afflictions and subsidiary afflictions. For example, a snake in hibernation lying deep underground is also in the realm of non-perception: without knowing or feeling, but still a living being. This demonstrates that without the store consciousness (A-laya consciousness), the transition from the realm of non-perception to the desire realm would not be possible.
When the consciousness that counters afflictions arises, all worldly consciousnesses cease, including the six defiled consciousnesses:
- Eye consciousness
- Ear consciousness
- Nose consciousness
- Tongue consciousness
- Body consciousness
- Mind consciousness
The liberating nature of the consciousness that counters afflictions cannot contain the seeds of afflictions, so the seeds of defilement must be stored in the store consciousness (A-laya consciousness). In the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, if there is no store consciousness, then formations cannot condition consciousness, grasping cannot condition becoming, and it is impossible to explain the defilement or rebirth of afflictions.
