Does the Eighth Consciousness Belong to the Consciousness Aggregate?

The aggregate of consciousness (vijñāna-skandha) mainly refers to the aggregating function of the six consciousnesses among the five aggregates and the aggregating function of the seventh consciousness (manas), and it is subject to arising and ceasing. Because "aggregation" (skandha) itself is an arising-and-ceasing activity of fabrication, the aggregate of consciousness is subject to arising and ceasing, impermanent, without self, empty.

The eighth consciousness (Ālayavijñāna) can aggregate karmic seeds, but this aggregating function is like something mechanical—it is without mind, a function that is thus by its very nature (dharmatā), an automatic rule of the dharmadhātu, without any deliberate fabrication or arrangement by anyone, without any mental activity (citta-caitta). Therefore, the aggregating function of the eighth consciousness is not subject to arising and ceasing, and cannot be classified under the arising-and-ceasing aggregating function of the five aggregates.