A Dialogue on the Attainment of Phala

A: Attaining the fruit and illuminating the mind only requires realization by the sixth consciousness; it does not necessitate simultaneous realization by the seventh consciousness (manas).

B: After the sixth consciousness attains the fruit and becomes a sage, when one falls asleep at night, is this individual then in the identity of a sage or an ordinary person?

A: The eighth consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna) retains the karmic seeds. Upon awakening, one naturally remains a Sotāpanna (Stream-enterer).

B: If this person does not wake up, are they an ordinary person or one who has attained the fruit? What if this person enters a state of permanent deep coma and never awakens?
A: The eighth consciousness retains the karmic seeds.
B: The eighth consciousness contains many karmic seeds, including extremely numerous and heavy seeds leading to hell realms. Ultimately, which karmic seed determines their identity?

A: It is primarily based on the heavy karmic seed of the sixth consciousness attaining the fruit.

B: Although the sixth consciousness has attained the fruit, the seventh consciousness has not. The greed, hatred, delusion, ignorance, and afflictions of the seventh consciousness also constitute heavy karmic seeds. Are the innumerable seeds of greed, hatred, and hell-bound karma associated with the seventh consciousness not stronger than the karmic seed of the sixth consciousness attaining the fruit?

A: ·········

B: At the time of rebirth, the sixth consciousness ceases. It is the seventh consciousness and the eighth consciousness that undergo rebirth. At this point, does rebirth occur based on the identity of the sixth consciousness having attained the fruit, or based on the ordinary identity of the seventh consciousness?

A: Rebirth occurs based on the karmic seeds within the eighth consciousness.

B: Within the eighth consciousness, the innumerable seeds of greed, hatred, and afflictions associated with the seventh consciousness are certainly stronger than the karmic seeds of the sixth consciousness. The dharmas cultivated by the sixth consciousness will not mature because they are too light, whereas the afflictive karmic seeds corresponding to the seventh consciousness are extremely heavy. Where will rebirth occur then?

A: The karmic seed of the sixth consciousness attaining the fruit is heavy.

B: Attaining the fruit corresponds to the sixth consciousness, not the seventh consciousness. The wisdom of attaining the fruit manifests through the sixth consciousness. The afflictive karmic seeds correspond to the seventh consciousness, and the karmic actions of afflictions manifest through the seventh consciousness. At this moment, the sixth consciousness ceases and can no longer manifest the wisdom of attaining the fruit. However, the seventh consciousness will manifest the karmic actions of greed, hatred, delusion, and self-view. Where will rebirth occur then?

A: ········

B: If the study of the Buddha Dharma is all done by the sixth consciousness, how much effect can the sixth consciousness still exert in the intermediate state (antarābhava)? In the intermediate state, is the defiled karmic force of the seventh consciousness more powerful, or is the power cultivated by the sixth consciousness stronger?

A: Rebirth does not necessarily always pass through the intermediate state. For example, one may directly enter hell or ascend to heaven.

B: Rebirth without passing through the intermediate state occurs due to major good or evil karma created during life. Is the good karma of the sixth consciousness attaining the fruit greater, or is the defiled karma of greed, hatred, and delusion from the seventh consciousness not attaining the fruit greater? Also, does attaining the fruit mean one ascends directly to heaven without needing the intermediate state?

A: Studying the true Dharma is ultimately beneficial.

B: Although one has studied the true Dharma, if greed, hatred, and delusion are fully present and not diminished at all, and the seeds of afflictive karma remain stored in the eighth consciousness, when afflictive karma manifests in the intermediate state, does rebirth follow the afflictive karma or the dharmas one has studied?

A: Rebirth follows the good karma of the sixth consciousness attaining the fruit.

B: However, since the seventh consciousness has ultimately not attained the fruit, and the greed, hatred, and delusion during life were extremely heavy, the defiled karmic seeds outweigh the karmic seed of the sixth consciousness attaining the fruit. At this point, rebirth should follow the stronger karma first, meaning rebirth occurs in the defiled, ordinary identity of the seventh consciousness, right?

A: ·······

B: To assume presumptuously that merely studying the Buddha Dharma plants karmic seeds, guaranteeing rebirth in a good destiny and escape from the three evil destinies (hell, hungry ghost, animal realms), is an extremely biased view. Although everyone may cultivate good dharmas, the evil karma within the eighth consciousness remains very heavy. The good dharmas are insufficient to counteract the evil dharmas. Ultimately, the powerful evil dharmas dominate. How, then, can one avoid the karmic retribution of the three evil destinies and be reborn into a good destiny?