Eliminating the View of Consciousness as the Self (VI)

Furthermore, under what conditions does the mind consciousness associated with tongue consciousness arise? For it to manifest, there must be the tongue faculty, which must be intact and undamaged; there must be tongue consciousness; there must also be the seventh consciousness and the eighth consciousness; there must be the seed of mind consciousness; and there must be the taste-object in the food or drink. Only then can the mind consciousness manifest.

Once the mind consciousness manifests, it can discern what taste this is, specifically to what degree it is sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty, or bland; what substance it belongs to; whether it is delicious or not; and whether consuming it is beneficial or harmful. It then engages in other mental activities, such as discrimination, cognition, reasoning, analysis, judgment, planning, and various other forms of thinking, all of which are functions of the mind consciousness.

The manifestation of mental activities of consciousness depends on these causal conditions. If even one condition is missing, the mental activities of consciousness cannot arise. Since it is a phenomenon that arises only when all causes and conditions are complete, it must, therefore, be illusory—a phenomenon that arises and ceases, an impermanent dharma that is born and then perishes. Thus, it is not the self.