Cheng Weishi Lun Shu Ji (Commentary on the Treatise on the Establishment of Consciousness-Only, Cheng weishi lun shuji)

Original text: 异熟识。即第八识。名有多义。一变异而熟。要因变异之时果方熟故。此义通余。种生果时皆变异故。二异时而熟。与因异时果方熟故。今者大乘。约造之时非约种体。许同世故。三异类而熟。与因异性果酬因故。

Explanation: The eighth consciousness of an eighth-ground bodhisattva is called the vipāka consciousness (异熟识)—"ripening through alteration." Present actions are the cause; the cause is stored as seeds in the eighth consciousness, and when they ripen, the eighth consciousness transforms and gives rise to the fruit. Therefore it is called the vipāka consciousness. "Ripening at a different time": present actions are committed, the seeds are stored in the eighth consciousness, and when the conditions ripen at another time, the eighth consciousness produces the fruit. That time may be a moment later, tomorrow, in one's old age, in the next life, or after countless eons. Since the time is uncertain, the fruit is likewise not fixed. Through repentance and the cultivation of wholesome dharmas, the fruit can be changed. "Ripening in a different category": one commits actions now in a human body, and in the next life receives retribution in a hell body, or a heavenly body, or the body of beings in another world, or the body of a bodhisattva, or the body of a pratyekabuddha, or, at the time of retribution, one attains buddhahood, the retribution being the fruit of buddhahood. Karma includes fixed karma and indeterminate karma. Fixed karma can become indeterminate karma; indeterminate karma can become fixed karma, and can also be eliminated. If one repents immediately after committing an unwholesome deed, it can be transformed into indeterminate karma, or be dissolved and lost. If the mind does not feel remorse and the unwholesome mind increases, indeterminate karma will turn into fixed karma, and retribution will necessarily be received. Once an unwholesome karma has been created, if one does not repent, it doubles overnight, and doubles again after another night; accumulating to the end, the karma becomes enormous. Because these seeds of unwholesome karma continually perfume the manas, the manas will in the future perfume the mind consciousness, and one will again commit the same unwholesome deeds. Thus it continues without interruption, without end, with suffering life after life without cease. A single sentence can send one to hell; after the retribution is fully endured and one returns to the human world, because of the habit energy of karma-making, one will again commit the same unwholesome deeds, and then once more fall into hell to receive retribution. This is how sentient beings are—endlessly committing unwholesome karma without any awareness, suffering without cease for countless eons, and yet utterly unaware of the reason for it.