Commentary on the Treatise on the Establishment of Consciousness-Only

Original text: 异熟识。即第八识。名有多义。一变异而熟。要因变异之时果方熟故。此义通余。种生果时皆变异故。二异时而熟。与因异时果方熟故。今者大乘。约造之时非约种体。许同世故。三异类而熟。与因异性果酬因故。

Explanation: The eighth consciousness of an eighth-ground bodhisattva is called the vipāka consciousness (ādānavijñāna), "ripening through alteration." Actions performed now are the cause; the cause is stored as seeds in the eighth consciousness, and when they ripen, the eighth consciousness transforms and gives rise to the retribution—therefore it is called the vipāka consciousness. "Ripening at a different time": actions are performed now, the seeds are stored in the eighth consciousness, and when the conditions ripen at another time, the eighth consciousness produces the fruit. That time may be a little while later, tomorrow, late in life, the next life, or after countless eons. Since the time is uncertain, the retribution is also not fixed. Through repentance and the cultivation of wholesome dharmas, the retribution can be changed. "Ripening in a different category": one performs actions with a human body now, and in the next life receives retribution with a hell body, or a heavenly body, or the body of beings in other worlds, or a bodhisattva body, or a pratyekabuddha body, or at the time of receiving retribution one attains buddhahood, with the retribution being the buddha-fruit. Karma includes fixed karma and unfixed karma: fixed karma can become unfixed karma, and unfixed karma can become fixed karma, or it can be eliminated. If one repents immediately after committing an unwholesome deed, it can be transformed into unfixed karma, or it can be extinguished. If the mind does not give rise to remorse and the unwholesome mind increases, unfixed karma will turn into fixed karma, and one must receive the retribution. For a single unwholesome karma, once it has been committed, if one does not repent, it doubles overnight, and doubles again after another night; accumulating to the end, the karma becomes enormous. Because this seed of unwholesome karma continuously perfumes the manas, the manas will in the future perfume the mind consciousness, and one will again commit the same unwholesome karma in the future. Thus it continues without interruption, without end, with suffering unbroken life after life. A single sentence can send one entirely to hell; after the retribution has been fully endured and one returns to the human world, because of the habit energy of karma-making, one will still commit the same unwholesome karma all over again, and then once more fall into hell to undergo retribution. This is how sentient beings are: endlessly committing unwholesome karma without any awareness, suffering without interruption for countless eons, and yet utterly unaware of its cause.