首楞嚴義疏注經 4.419

4.419

Life span is a retribution dharma, induced on the basis of karma. The seed of the eighth consciousness, which has the function of continuously sustaining body and mind without interruption, is termed 'life span'. The preceding six [functions of] seeing and hearing originally constitute one fundamental consciousness; due to the differences among the six sense faculties, they become divided. Although the functions of the consciousnesses are separated, their substance is only a single seed. Thus, within identity they establish difference, and in places of difference they see identity; identity and difference losing their standard, they intertwine with each other, and on the basis of the body of total retribution, the life faculty is established. This is called the turbidity of life span, which is the mark of suffering bound by karma. The five layers above are all formed through the mutual habituation of the subjective and objective deluded awareness and shadow-clarity; from subtle to coarse, they mutually condition each other, arising in succession and blending reality into turbidity. There are simply these five meanings.