大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 3.57

3.57

Treatise: "The second is named [...] because of the characteristic of being able to see." Commentary: "Named evolving consciousness" designates its name. "Relying on the stirred mind" adduces the condition relied upon. "The characteristic of being able to see" explains the meaning of evolving consciousness: namely, relying on avidyā, it evolves the preceding karmic consciousness into this ability to see; hence it is called evolving consciousness. According to the sacred teachings on consciousness, evolving consciousness has two aspects: being evolved by avidyā into the ability to see resides in the fundamental consciousness; evolving according to its sensory objects into the ability to see resides in the phenomenal consciousness. The characteristic of evolving here is spoken of according to the first meaning. When the Yogācārabhūmi and other treatises state that the seven consciousnesses, etc., are named evolving consciousness, they speak according to the second meaning.