What Are the Co-existent Supports of Each Consciousness?

The coexistent basis of the six consciousnesses is the manas, and the coexistent basis of the manas is the eighth consciousness. It is the eighth consciousness that directly gives birth to and upholds the manas, so that the manas can exist and operate continuously. The eighth consciousness directly gives birth to all dharmas, and thus the coexistent basis of all dharmas is also the eighth consciousness; without the eighth consciousness, there would be no existence or operation of any dharma. However, the eighth consciousness must rely on the manas in order to function, in order to give birth to all dharmas, and in order to manifest the operation and characteristics of the eighth consciousness. Therefore, the manas is the coexistent basis for the eighth consciousness's operation of the various dharmas, but not the coexistent basis for the eighth consciousness's arising, because the eighth consciousness originally exists and need not be born; the manas also cannot give birth to the eighth consciousness.