How to Correctly Understand the Aggregate of Consciousness (Part One)

Original text of the Lokadharaparipṛcchā:佛告持世，何谓菩萨摩诃萨正观察选择识阴。菩萨摩诃萨观非阴是识阴。颠倒阴是识阴。虚妄阴是识阴。何以故。持世。是识阴从颠倒起。虚妄缘所系。从先业有。现在缘所系。属众因缘。虚妄无所有。

Explanation: The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Lokadhara: What is the correct observation and understanding of the aggregate of consciousness by a bodhisattva-mahāsattva? The bodhisattva-mahāsattva observes that there is no aggregate that can be called the aggregate of consciousness; the aggregate of consciousness is devoid of all existence. The deluded aggregate is the aggregate of consciousness; the false and illusory aggregate is the aggregate of consciousness. Why is this said? Lokadhara, because the aggregate of consciousness arises from delusion, is bound by false and illusory conditions, exists from past karma, is bound by present conditions, belongs to the multitude of causes and conditions, and is false and illusory, devoid of all existence.

Realizing the falsity of the coarse aspect of the aggregate of consciousness is the patience with non-arising; realizing the falsity of the extremely subtle aspect is the patience with the non-arising of dharmas. Originally there are no dharmas; within this absence of dharmas, the aggregate of consciousness is forcibly established through the power of causes and conditions—the aggregate of consciousness is false, illusory, and devoid of all existence. Tolerating and accepting this principle is the patience with non-arising or the patience with the non-arising of dharmas.

Original text:忆想分别起。从识而生。有所识故。名之为识。从忆想分别觉观生。假借而有。有所识故。数名为识。以识诸物故。以起心业故。以思惟故。众缘生相故。起种种思惟故。数名识阴。从有所识。有识像出。示心业故。摄思惟故。数名识阴。

Explanation: The aggregate of consciousness arises from the manas's recollection, deliberation, and discrimination, and arises from within the Ālayavijñāna. Because the aggregate of consciousness has the function of discernment, it is called the aggregate of consciousness. Because the aggregate of consciousness is born from the manas's recollection, discrimination, initial application and sustained examination (vitarka-vicāra), exists by borrowing from the multitude of causes and conditions, and has the function of discernment, it falls within the count of the five aggregates and is named the aggregate of consciousness. Because the aggregate of consciousness can discern all dharmas, because it can give rise to mental karmic actions, because the aggregate of consciousness can engage in deliberation, because it has the aspect of the combination of many causes and conditions, and because it can give rise to various kinds of deliberation, it falls within the count of the five aggregates and is named the aggregate of consciousness.

Original text:或名为心。或名为意。或名为识。皆是意业分别故。识阴所摄。识相识行识性示故。数名识阴。如是非阴是识阴，不生不起不作，但以颠倒相应缘。虚妄识故，数名识阴。

Explanation: The aggregate of consciousness may be called mind, or called manas, or called consciousness; all of these belong to the discrimination of mental karma and are subsumed within the aggregate of consciousness. With the aspect of consciousness, the operation of consciousness, and the nature of consciousness being manifested, it falls within the count of the five aggregates and is named the aggregate of consciousness. Such an aggregate, which is really no aggregate entering into the aggregates, is named the aggregate of consciousness. The aggregate of consciousness in fact was never born, never arose into function, and has no real functional activity, yet because of karmic conditions corresponding to delusion, it falsely and illusorily discerns the various dharmas, and thus falls within the count of the five aggregates and is named the aggregate of consciousness.

Original text:何以故。是识阴从众因缘生。无自性。次第相续生。念念生灭。是识缘不生阴相。何以故。是识阴生相不可得。决定相亦不可得。生相不可得故。决定相不可得故。根本无所有故。自相无故。牢坚不可得故。

Explanation: Why is this said? Because the aggregate of consciousness is born from the combination of many causes and conditions, it therefore has no self-nature of its own. The aggregate of consciousness arises sequentially and continuously, with each thought moment arising and ceasing. Such conditions of consciousness do not give rise to the aspect of an aggregate. Why? Because the aspect of the arising of the aggregate of consciousness is unattainable—since the aggregate of consciousness does not arise, there is no aspect of arising—and the aspect of the definite existence of the aggregate of consciousness is also unattainable. The aspect of arising of the aggregate of consciousness is unattainable, the aspect of definite existence is unattainable; fundamentally, the aggregate of consciousness is devoid of all existence, its self-characteristic is nonexistent, and its aspect of solidity is also unattainable.