Question: What is Alaya’s theory of dependent origination?
Answer: Consciousness-only scholars believe that in addition to the six consciousnesses, there are two more consciousnesses - the seventh mana consciousness and the eighth alaya consciousness (qlaya). Mana is translated as ‘meaning’, which is the root of the sixth consciousness. It has a simple function, which is to constantly hold on to the thought of ‘I’. Because of the "I" thought, when people come into contact with external things, they have all kinds of conscious activities about love and hate, good and bad, right and wrong, and each other.
Alaya is translated as ‘hidden consciousness’, which can preserve the ‘seeds’ of all things from spoilage. ‘Seed’ is a borrowed term here, and its actual meaning is ability, or potential. There are two types of seeds in Alaya Zang: one is the seeds of famous quotes. In modern language, "famous quotes" are concepts. What we see, hear, and perceive in our first seven consciousnesses leaves imprints on the Alaya Consciousness. In the terminology of the consciousness-only practitioners, this is called "scented habit." It's like scenting clothes with fragrance, and the clothes retain their fragrance. What is cultivated is the seed that exists as a potential force.
The second is the seeds of karma, which are the seeds of good karma and bad karma created by our consciousness that are smeared on the alaya consciousness. From the second type of seeds hidden in Alaya, the present five senses (root body), the external world (the device world), and the first seven consciousnesses appear (so the root body and the device world are all manifested by the Alaya consciousness, and they are the Alaya consciousness. Layer's phase). This change of mind, body and universe is called ‘present activity’ (present activity). Then from the current seeds of practice and karma, there will be the realization of the future physical and mental universe. This is the ‘alaya theory of dependent origination’ of the yoga system.
(Excerpt from Layman Zhao Puchu's "Buddhist Common Sense Questions and Answers")