Having the Volitional Mental Factor Does Not Imply Agentive Nature

Although the eighth consciousness can discern karmic seeds, knows whether karmic seeds have matured, and knows when karmic seeds should be brought into manifestation to realize karmic retribution, this function of the eighth consciousness operates spontaneously and naturally—it is a principle that has always been so. It is not that He insists on taking charge to realize karmic retribution. When causes and conditions arise, He necessarily accords with causes and conditions and never goes against them. Yet no matter what, His mind remains unchanged, suchness is immovable (tathatā-acalita); He is forever a person without affairs, with not a single drop of dust falling into His mind.

Although the eighth consciousness has the mental factor of volition (cetanā) and can make decisions, being able to make decisions does not mean being able to take charge. This is because the first five consciousnesses also have the mental factor of volition and can also make decisions, but they cannot take charge—they can only follow instructions. The so-called decision means that the mind reaches a determination regarding the dharmas it contacts and knows, puts those dharmas into operation, and processes the dharmas it has discerned. This is within the scope of each consciousness's proper function and does not represent the capacity to take charge. If it did represent the capacity to take charge, sentient beings would have eight consciousnesses each taking charge—would they not have gone mad long ago?