The True Meaning of "Consciousness Conditions Name-and-Form, and Name-and-Form Conditions Consciousness"

The five aggregates and the seven consciousnesses must depend on the tathāgatagarbha in order to arise, and only then can there be the various activities of the five-aggregate body—this is the meaning of "name-and-form conditions consciousness." The tathāgatagarbha must rely on the five aggregates and the eighteen realms in order to manifest its various functions and effects; without the five aggregates and the eighteen realms, the tathāgatagarbha would no longer need to operate, and then its functions could not be manifested. When the functions of the tathāgatagarbha cannot be seen, the tathāgatagarbha cannot be found. Therefore the Buddha said that consciousness conditions name-and-form, and name-and-form conditions consciousness.

The seven consciousnesses must also operate within the five-aggregate physical body in order to display their functions and effects. In the desire realm, without a physical body there would be no six consciousnesses, and the functions and effects of the seventh consciousness could not be displayed either. Only when the physical body is combined with the seven consciousnesses can the five aggregates appear and the activities of the five-aggregate body occur. The physical body plus the seven consciousnesses is equivalent to the five-aggregate body.