Discourse on the Sutra of the Compendium of Father and Son (94)

Aggregate at Death and Aggregate at Birth

Original Text: Great King, consciousness acts as the master, while karma serves as the conditioning factor. These two mutually condition each other, giving rise to the initial consciousness. Whether one descends into the hell realm, falls among animals, enters the realm of Yama, becomes an asura, a human, or a deva, once the initial consciousness arises, each being receives their corresponding karmic retribution. The mental factors of the same category continue to function in succession. The final cessation of consciousness is called the aggregate at death. The initial arising of consciousness is called the aggregate at birth.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, the ālaya-vijñāna serves as the master of sentient beings, constituting the cause for the birth of the next life's physical form, while karmic actions serve as the condition for the birth of the next life's physical form. When causes and conditions converge, the initial consciousness arises, and the physical form of the next life is born. This individual may descend into a hellish body, fall into an animal body, descend into the ghost realm, or fall into the body of an asura, a human, or a deva. When the initial consciousness of the next life arises, sentient beings begin to receive their respective karmic retribution. Thereafter, the consciousness within this physical form continues to function without interruption until the final moment when consciousness ceases; this is called the aggregate at death, becoming a deceased corpse. When the initial consciousness first arises, it is called the aggregate at birth, signifying a living being.