What Is the Consciousness When Neither Thinking of Good Nor Thinking of Evil?

Question: The five universal mental factors should be present in all eight consciousnesses, so why do they not ponder good or evil?

Answer: Although all eight consciousnesses possess the five universal mental factors—attention, contact, sensation, perception, and volition—each consciousness does not engage these factors toward all dharmas. Rather, it is selective. The perceived aspects (nimitta) of each consciousness differ significantly, and each consciousness applies attention, contact, sensation, perception, and volition only to its own corresponding perceived aspects, not to unrelated ones. Moreover, the six sensory consciousnesses (from the first to the sixth) arise and cease incessantly; once they cease, they no longer manifest the five universal mental factors toward any dharma.

"Not pondering good or evil" refers to the fact that the eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna) never contemplates the characteristics of good or evil dharmas. In contrast, the sixth consciousness (mano-vijñāna) and the seventh consciousness (kliṣṭa-manas) constantly contemplate the characteristics of good and evil dharmas. However, upon reaching a certain level of cultivation, even the sixth and seventh consciousnesses cease to contemplate the characteristics of good and evil dharmas and instead perceive the true suchness (tathatā) of their nature.