Does the Seventh Consciousness Sleep?

Question: When asleep, does the seventh consciousness sleep? Can the seventh consciousness hear the sutras being softly recited by a chanting device beside the bed? Will it store the information in the eighth consciousness?

Answer: The seventh consciousness never sleeps nor rests. If the seventh consciousness were to sleep, only the eighth consciousness would remain, signifying entry into nirvana without remainder as an Arhat. The seventh consciousness does not sleep or cease to exist unless an Arhat or Pratyekabuddha enters nirvana without remainder. When a chanting device plays after falling asleep, the seventh consciousness can still perceive; the issue is whether it can comprehend the content. However, with prolonged exposure, it can be influenced. Whenever the seventh consciousness perceives sound, it stores it in the eighth consciousness, though the seeds planted differ based on whether the content was understood or not.