How Does the Ālaya-vijñāna Transmigrate the Body?

Original text: Bhadrapāla addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, sentient beings, though aware of the existence of consciousness, are like a precious jewel enclosed within a box—it remains unmanifested and unknown to them. World-Honored One, what form does this consciousness take? Why is it called 'consciousness'? When sentient beings die, their limbs thrash uncontrollably, their eyes change expression, and they gradually lose autonomy. As the faculties cease, the four elements disperse, and the ālaya-vijñāna departs from the body. Where does it go? What is its intrinsic nature? What appearance does it possess? How does it relinquish this body and assume another?"

Explanation: Bhadrapāla said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, sentient beings, though aware of the ālaya-vijñāna within themselves, are like a jewel concealed within the five aggregates—it cannot manifest, and they themselves remain unaware of it. World-Honored One, what is the form of this consciousness? Why is it designated as 'consciousness'? When sentient beings die, their hands and feet flail, their gaze becomes vacant and altered, and gradually they lose control. As the faculties progressively cease and the four elements separate, the ālaya-vijñāna departs from the physical body. Where does it go? What is the intrinsic nature of the ālaya-vijñāna? Does it possess any form? Why does it leave this body and accept another?"

Buddhist practitioners hold two views regarding the cognition of this consciousness: one recognizes only the six consciousnesses (including mental consciousness), while the other, besides knowing the six consciousnesses, also acknowledges the existence of the ālaya-vijñāna. Which of these two consciousnesses—the mental consciousness or the ālaya-vijñāna—is the jewel described here? Since the six consciousnesses cannot manifest all phenomena, they are not the wish-fulfilling jewel (maṇi pearl). The treasure referred to as the wish-fulfilling jewel is the ālaya-vijñāna, which gives rise to all dharmas. The ālaya-vijñāna is like a jewel enclosed within a box; this box signifies the five aggregates. Because it is hidden within the five aggregates, this treasure remains undetected by sentient beings. In truth, this treasure perpetually radiates brilliant light; it is merely that sentient beings themselves are unaware. It is not that the treasure fails to manifest, but rather that the minds of sentient beings are obscured by the five aggregates; it is due to the affliction of ignorance within sentient beings' minds that creates a barrier, preventing them from perceiving this treasure within themselves. It continuously radiates light within the five aggregates of sentient beings, illuminating everything; it is solely because sentient beings themselves, due to ignorance, fail to perceive the ālaya-vijñāna concealed within the five aggregates. In reality, the treasure itself is not concealed.

Bhadrapāla Bodhisattva inquired about the form of the ālaya-vijñāna—whether this consciousness possesses shape, length, squareness, roundness, size, or color; whether, like the six dusts (objects) in the mundane world, it has sound, color, form, scent, taste, touch, or mental objects; what its characteristics are; and why it is called ālaya-vijñāna. When sentient beings die, the ālaya-vijñāna inevitably separates from the body. However, some sentient beings experience agonizing deaths marked by thrashing limbs—this occurs for those who have created unwholesome karma. Their death appearance is rather distressing, and they suffer greatly in dying. Due to this suffering, their hands and feet convulse uncontrollably in struggle.