Why is it said that the three transforming consciousnesses collectively manifest all phenomena in the world?

Question: Since all dharmas are born from the eighth consciousness, why is it said that the three transforming consciousnesses together manifest all phenomena?

Answer: Although all phenomena in the world are manifested by the eighth consciousness, the eighth consciousness alone cannot produce all dharmas without relying on external conditions. The eighth consciousness must depend on corresponding conditions to produce all dharmas; a solitary cause cannot produce dharmas.

Consciousness-Only doctrine teaches the three transforming consciousnesses: the eighth consciousness is the first transforming consciousness, manas (the seventh consciousness) is the second transforming consciousness, and the first six consciousnesses are the third transforming consciousness. The eighth consciousness, in conjunction with the seventh consciousness, transforms to produce the body and the material world; then, in conjunction with the six consciousnesses, it can produce all dharmas. If the first six consciousnesses do not participate in manifestation, many dharmas cannot be manifested. All the activities of the six consciousnesses are stored as seeds in the eighth consciousness. Only based on these seeds can the eighth consciousness produce all phenomena; without these karmic seeds, the eighth consciousness cannot produce all phenomena.

Just like the fourth-fruit Arhats, whose bodily, verbal, and mental activities of the six consciousnesses have been purified, they are unwilling to create worldly conditioned dharmas excessively. The seeds of the three realms no longer accumulate, and manas no longer clings to the dharmas of the three realms. Thus, at the end of their lives, they enter nirvana without residue, leaving only the eighth consciousness, which produces no dharmas whatsoever. Therefore, the arising of dharmas in the three realms must result from the combined functioning of the three transforming consciousnesses; the eighth consciousness alone neither produces nor transforms dharmas. If our present six consciousnesses all become non-active and are unwilling to create bodily, verbal, and mental activities, no seeds will be produced, and the five aggregates will not arise in future lives—the chain of birth and death will be severed. The appearance of dharmas in the three realms is necessarily the result of the collective functioning of the eight consciousnesses.