The True Meaning of "Consciousness Conditions Name-and-Form, Name-and-Form Conditions Consciousness"

The five aggregates and the seven consciousnesses must depend on the tathāgatagarbha in order to arise, and only then can the five-aggregate body have its various activities—this is the meaning of "name-and-form conditions consciousness." The tathāgatagarbha must depend on the five aggregates and the eighteen realms in order to manifest its various functions and effects; without the five aggregates and the eighteen realms, the tathāgatagarbha would no longer need to operate, and then the functions of the tathāgatagarbha could not be manifested. If one cannot see the functions of the tathāgatagarbha, one cannot locate the tathāgatagarbha. Therefore the Buddha said: consciousness conditions name-and-form, and name-and-form conditions consciousness.

The seven consciousnesses must also operate within the five-aggregate material body in order to display the functions and effects of the seven consciousnesses. In the desire realm, without a material body there are no six consciousnesses, and the functions and effects of the seventh consciousness also cannot be displayed. Only when the material body is combined with the seven consciousnesses can the five aggregates appear and the activities of the five-aggregate body occur. The material body plus the seven consciousnesses is equivalent to the five-aggregate body.