The Six Consciousnesses

By Victor M Fontane

Within the six consciousnesses (ṣaḍ-vijñāna) of humans, karma dictates judgment. Cultivating the mind (bhāvanā) involves transforming these six consciousnesses and refining the thoughts within the five aggregates (pañca-skandha), achieving purity of mind (citta-prasāda) and increased wisdom (prajñā).  Not only are the six consciousnesses and five aggregates affected, but the seventh (manas) and eighth (ālaya-vijñāna) consciousnesses are also interconnected. Purifying the seventh consciousness can transform the eighth, as the seventh constantly draws latent tendencies (vāsanā) from the eighth and interprets them.

For the uncultivated mind, consciousness is like destiny, guiding the direction of life. Encounters with people or objects through the eighth consciousness are all due to karma. Therefore, reducing the thoughts within the five aggregates is the foundation of spiritual practice (sādhana).

The understanding of emptiness (śūnyatā) is crucial.  For example, individuals are often influenced by the eighth consciousness, developing extreme love or hate towards those connected by karmic ties. Attachment to specific people or events gives rise to the sense of self (ātman), leading to the suffering of impermanence (duḥkha). Cultivating the wisdom of emptiness transforms attachment into compassion (karuṇā) for all sentient beings.

From a Buddhist perspective, the transformation of consciousness into wisdom (jñāna) is the ultimate goal.  Spiritual practice transforms the eight consciousnesses into the four wisdoms (catvāri jñānāni), corresponding to the Five Buddhas: The Great Mirror Wisdom (Ādarśa-jñāna) transforms the storehouse consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna).Equality Wisdom (Samatā-jñāna) recognizes all beings as possessing the Dharmakāya of Vairocana Buddha. Wondrous Observing Wisdom (Pratyavekṣaṇā-jñāna) observes emotions and the thoughts within the five aggregates.Accomplishing Wisdom (Kṛtyānuṣṭhāna-jñāna) acts in accordance with karmic consequences.

The eighth consciousness is like the cycle of rebirth (saṃsāra). Spiritual practice transforms thoughts, unraveling the karma within the eighth consciousness, detaching from fixations on people or objects, and thereby avoiding the suffering of impermanence.

From the Saṃdhinirmocana-sūtra:  "All consciousnesses are the Tathāgatagarbha, pure and unstained wisdom. It is not non-existent, but truly exists. Therefore, the transformed consciousness is precisely the wisdom of the Tathāgata (A title or epithet of the Buddha. The term can mean either 'one who has thus come' or 'one who has thus gone'. The Buddha used the term to refer to himself after he had attained enlightenment (bodhi), and it became one of the stock epithets of a Buddha)“.