The Perceiving Aspect of Ālayavijñāna

The perceiving aspect of the ālaya-vijñāna is the seeing function of the ālaya-vijñāna. Through the operation of the five omnipresent mental factors, the ālaya-vijñāna perceives all dharmas, involving attention, contact, sensation, perception, and volition. It then apprehends and manifests the dharmas. Only at this point can the manas (the mental faculty) perceive the dharmas; prior to this, perception is solely the function of the ālaya-vijñāna. However, the manas cannot perceive the perceiving function of the ālaya-vijñāna. Only after attaining Buddhahood or upon reaching certain bodhisattva stages (bhūmis) can one perceive the operation of the perceiving aspect of the Tathāgatagarbha, which is the function of the mental factors. Ordinary sentient beings and bodhisattvas below the first bhūmi lack such great wisdom and meditative power. Even bodhisattvas of certain bhūmis may not perceive it clearly and completely.