Commentary on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (94)

Original text:大王。识为其主。业为攀缘。二种相因。初识生起。或趣地狱。或堕傍生。琰摩罗界。及阿修罗。若人若天。初识生已。各受其报。同分心品。相续随转。最后识灭。名为死蕴。最初识起。名为生蕴。

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, the ālayavijñāna, as the master of sentient beings, is the cause for the birth of the physical body of the next life, and karmic actions are the condition for the birth of the physical body of the next life. When cause and condition converge, the initial mind-consciousness arises, and the physical body of the next life is born. This person may fall into a hell body, or fall into an animal body, or fall into the realm of hungry ghosts, or fall into an asura body, a human body, or a heavenly body. When the initial mind-consciousness of the next life arises, sentient beings begin to receive their respective karmic retribution. Thereafter, the mind-consciousness on this physical body continues to operate without cease, until the final mind-consciousness ceases—this is called the aggregates of death, becoming a corpse, one who has died. And when the initial mind-consciousness arises, it is called the aggregates of birth—that is, one who is born.