成唯識論了義燈 4.96

4.96

The Śāstra states: "Therefore, they reciprocally serve as equal-immediate conditions." Question: How many minds and mental factors can arise together and still be said to serve as conditions? What prevents multiple consciousnesses from arising together and likewise serving as conditions? One might challenge: The various consciousnesses arise prior and subsequent in various numbers and, looking to one another, succeed in forming conditions; when material dharmas arise prior and subsequent in various numbers, do they also form immediate conditions? The other party challenges again: When various consciousnesses arise in various numbers, if by analogy with form they do not form conditions, then when your various mental factors arise in various numbers, should they not also, like form, fail to form conditions? The explanation is: Mind and mental factors harmonize and appear as one, working together to achieve a single task, so they can mutually serve as conditions; the various consciousnesses are not like this, so how could they mutually serve as conditions?