Whether the Eighth Consciousness Belongs to the Aggregate of Consciousness

The aggregate of consciousness (vijñāna-skandha) mainly refers to the aggregating function of the six consciousnesses among the five aggregates and the aggregating function of the seventh consciousness (manas), which is of a nature of arising and ceasing. Because aggregation itself is a conditioned activity of arising and ceasing, the aggregate of consciousness is subject to arising and ceasing, impermanent, not-self, and empty.

The eighth consciousness can aggregate karmic seeds, but this aggregating function is like something mechanical—it is without mind, functioning naturally so (dharmatā), an automatic rule of the dharma realm, without any artificial contrivance or arrangement, without any mental activity. Therefore, the aggregating function of the eighth consciousness is not of a nature of arising and ceasing, and cannot be classified under the arising-and-ceasing aggregating function of the five aggregates.