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

Consciousness conditioning the five aggregates means that they must depend on the eighth consciousness in order to arise, and only then can the five-aggregate body have its various activities. The eighth consciousness, in turn, must depend on the five aggregates and eighteen realms in order to manifest its various functions and roles. Without the five aggregates and eighteen realms, the eighth consciousness would have nothing to operate upon, and its functions could not be revealed. When the functions of the eighth consciousness cannot be seen, the eighth consciousness cannot be found. Therefore the Buddha said that consciousness conditions name-and-form, and name-and-form condition consciousness.

The seven consciousnesses must also operate within the five-aggregate physical body in order to display their functions and roles. Without a physical body, there would be no six consciousnesses, and the functions of the seventh consciousness could not be manifested either. Only when the physical body is combined with the seven consciousnesses can the five aggregates appear and can the activities of the five-aggregate body occur. The physical body plus the seven consciousnesses is equivalent to the five-aggregate body.