Consciousness is obscured by the separation between aggregates. The so-called "separation between aggregates" refers to the separation of the five aggregates across different lifetimes, not within the same lifetime. When the five aggregates of the present life cease, the five aggregates of the next life are newly born; both the body and the six consciousnesses are replaced with new ones. The six consciousnesses thus do not know the events of the previous life and are unable to remember the past. This is called the obscuration of the separation between aggregates. Without cultivating the four dhyanas and the eight samadhis, without the supernatural power of remembering past lives, and without the karmically acquired power of remembering past lives from birth, the six consciousnesses remain completely unaware of the experiences of previous lives. Without the power of remembering past lives, one cannot know matters of past and future lives; with it, one can know all matters concerning one's own and others' past and future lives.
After sentient beings die in their previous life, the five aggregates of this life become new, and the six consciousnesses are also new, no longer being the six consciousnesses of the previous life. They certainly do not know the people, events, and things of the past life. Because the mind of the six consciousnesses in this life perceives and remembers all people, events, and things based on the five aggregates of this life, remembering only the events of this life, it can only know all dharmas remembered in this lifetime. Since the five aggregates of this life are not the original five aggregates of the previous life, the six consciousnesses naturally cannot have memories of the actions performed by the five aggregates of the previous life.
However, manas (the mental faculty) has existed continuously since beginningless kalpas, never ceasing. It itself accumulates the habitual tendencies and afflictions from life after life. Therefore, the five aggregates of this life and the five aggregates of the previous life are continuous in terms of habitual tendencies and afflictions. If one does not learn the Buddha Dharma and practice, these tendencies will grow increasingly heavier. The eighth consciousness (alaya-vijnana) has also continued since beginningless kalpas. Consequently, the five aggregates of this life and the five aggregates of the previous life have a connected relationship; they are not two unrelated life entities. Thus, when we learn the Buddha Dharma and practice, we should consider our future selves and not live solely for this present life while neglecting our future lives. If one wishes to avoid the obscuration of the separation between aggregates, one should cultivate the supernatural power of remembering past lives. By cultivating meditative concentration to the fourth dhyana, one can attain this power. However, the power of remembering past lives has little relation to liberation and wisdom. Before attaining bodhi (awakening), it is unnecessary to cultivate supernatural powers, as doing so otherwise becomes an obstacle on the path.
14
+1