What Are Volitional Formations?

"Xing" (行) signifies motion, change, flow, and transformation; it does not denote stillness or immutability. All eight consciousnesses possess "xing," exhibiting the characteristic of activity, enabling the ceaseless operation of all dharmas. They themselves flow moment to moment, with each thought never abiding. Because the seeds of consciousness arise, cease, and continue in succession, all dharmas can manifest, enabling continuous operation, and the world of the five aggregates becomes rich and diverse. The arising, ceasing, and transformation of all phenomena are the result of the operation of the eight consciousnesses; the birth, death, and variation of the five-aggregate body are even more so the result of the "xing" of the eight consciousnesses. Once the first seven consciousnesses cease operating, life immediately terminates, entering Nirvana without remainder. However, the eighth consciousness itself is eternally indestructible; its own seeds of consciousness will continuously sustain its operation, and the five universal mental factors will continue to operate ceaselessly.

By whom are the "xing" of the seven consciousnesses controlled and governed? The "xing" of the six consciousnesses is determined and dominated by the seventh consciousness, the manas (mind-root). The "xing" of the manas is dominated by ignorance (avidyā) and the power of vows (pranidhāna). The "xing" of the manas depends on several factors: one is the karmic seeds within the Tathāgatagarbha (storehouse consciousness), another is the habitual force of the afflictions inherent to the manas itself, and another is the influence of environmental conditioning. However, all these factors arise due to the ignorance of the manas. If the manas were without ignorance, it would not be susceptible to conditioning, nor would it possess afflictions and habitual tendencies, nor would it leave behind seeds of karmic afflictions.