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The Mahayana Sangraha, Part Two
In the teaching of dependent arising, there are two aspects: the initial aspect of dependent arising, where the two consciousnesses—store consciousness and evolving consciousnesses—serve as causes and conditions for each other; and the subsequent aspect of dependent arising with the condition called adhipati-pratyaya (supporting condition). The six consciousnesses arise due to three kinds of conditions—adhipati-pratyaya (supporting condition), ālambana-pratyaya (object condition), and samanantara-pratyaya (immediately antecedent condition)—operating within three manifestations: birth and death in samsāra, the realms of wholesome and unwholesome destinies, and the experience of sense contact. The four inseparable conditions in the arising of consciousness are:
- main cause (hetu-pratyaya)
- supporting condition (adhipati-pratyaya)
- object cause (ālambana-pratyaya)
- immediately antecedent causality (samanantara-pratyaya)
The eighth consciousness, Alaya-vijñāna (store consciousness), is the place where the seeds of afflictions as well as wholesome seeds are stored and maintained, because the six evolving consciousnesses do not have the capacity to retain them for a long time. Fundamental afflictions such as craving, anger, and ignorance are only imprinted in Alaya-vijñāna; they cannot reside in the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind consciousness. Understanding the role of Alaya-vijñāna helps us to recognize the impermanent nature, and that afflictions cannot be imprinted in the evolving consciousnesses. From there, we practice mindfulness in order to transform the defilements into purity.