The Five Aggregates and Eighteen Realms Are All Manifestations of the Eighth Consciousness

Question: Are the six elements of earth, water, fire, wind, space, and consciousness coexistent with the eighth consciousness, or does the eighth consciousness exist first and then give rise to the six elements?

Answer: The seeds of the six great elements or the seven great elements are seeds inherently possessed by the eighth consciousness; they are not acquired after birth. Where the eighth consciousness exists, there are the seeds of the seven great elements. When conditions are sufficient, the eighth consciousness projects these seeds, thereby generating the world of the five aggregates and eighteen elements for sentient beings. The eighth consciousness exists ceaselessly at all times. When the karmic seeds of sentient beings ripen, it first projects the five great seeds of earth, water, fire, wind, and space, forming the material universe where sentient beings are about to live. After this living environment is prepared, it then projects the great seeds of earth, water, fire, and wind to form the physical body of sentient beings. Following that, it projects the seed of the mind consciousness, giving rise to the mind consciousness of sentient beings. Then, it projects the seeds of the five consciousnesses, producing the first five consciousnesses. In this way, the seven consciousnesses and five aggregates of sentient beings become complete, enabling them to be born from the womb and engage in the life of the five-aggregate world. All these activities of the eighth consciousness involve the participation of manas (the mental faculty), and they are also manifested by the eighth consciousness in accordance with the transformations of manas.