Discourse on the Sutra of the Compendium of Fathers and Sons (Part 154)

The Aggregate of Death and the Aggregate of Birth

Original Text: Great King, consciousness serves as the master, and karma serves as the condition. These two factors interact as both cause and condition, giving rise to the initial consciousness. Beings may descend into hell, fall into the animal realm, enter Yama's realm (the preta realm), or be born among asuras, humans, or devas. Once the initial consciousness arises, each being receives its corresponding karmic retribution. Consciousness continues to function on the same physical body, persisting in continuous succession. When the final consciousness ceases, it is called the aggregate of death. The initial arising of consciousness is called the aggregate of birth.

Explanation: The ālaya-vijñāna (storehouse consciousness) acts as the master giving rise to the five aggregates of the next life's physical body, while karmic seeds serve as the condition. Through the convergence of these two causes and conditions, the initial consciousness of the next life arises. Sentient beings may descend into the three evil destinies—hell, the animal realm, or the preta realm—or be born into the three good destinies—the asura realm, the human realm, or the deva realm. Once the initial consciousness arises, beings begin to receive their respective karmic retribution. Consciousness then continues to function continuously upon the same physical body. At the end of life, when consciousness ceases, the physical body becomes a corpse, called the aggregate of death. The initial consciousness arising upon the physical body is called the initial consciousness, and the five aggregates of the physical body are called the aggregate of birth.