Editing Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra (section)

=== The storehouse consciousness and buddha-nature ===
In other passages, the ''tathāgatagarbha'' ("buddha-womb" or buddha-source) is also equated with the "storehouse consciousness" (Skt. ''[[Eight Consciousnesses|ālayavijñāna]]''), the most fundamental layer of consciousness which contains the karmic seeds of [[Kleshas (Buddhism)|defilement]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10" /> However, in other further passages, the ''tathāgatagarbha'' is also said to be free from all [[Eight Consciousnesses|eight consciousnesses]] and "free from the characteristics of mind, without consciousness and mentation."<ref name=":0" /> 

As noted by Brunnholzl, this paradoxical storehouse consciousness qua buddha-nature contains both contaminated and uncontaminated latent tendencies (''anusaya'').<ref name=":0" /> Further, it is both momentary and not momentary, it is the cause of virtue and non-virtue, it is the cause of all existences in saṃsāra, and thus it must be purified. But, at the same time, this same buddha-nature is described as indestructible, free from a self, naturally pure and free from the flaw of impermanence. It is compared to a dancer who does various performances and yet also to pure gold or a diamond that is never tarnished or changed.<ref name=":0" /> The Lanka sutra states that this buddha-nature storehouse-consciousness is something that cannot be fully understood by those who are not Buddhas.<ref name=":10" /> 

The ''Laṅkāvatāra'' explains this paradoxical buddha-nature consciousness which is defiled and yet undefiled as follows:<blockquote>Mahāmati, the ''tathāgatagarbha'' contains the causes of virtue and non-virtue and is the creator of all births and forms of existence. Free from a self and what is mine, like a dancer, it enters [all kinds of] dangerous forms of existence...Being impregnated by all kinds of beginningless latent tendencies of the impregnations of negative tendencies of discursiveness, it is called "ālaya-consciousness." Its body, together with the seven consciousnesses that arise from the ground of the latent tendencies of ignorance, always operates uninterruptedly, just like a great ocean and its waves, is free from the flaw of impermanence, is the cessation of the position of a self, and is utterly pure by nature. The seven consciousnesses such as mentation and the mental consciousness, which are other than this and arise and perish, are momentary, arise from the cause that is false imagination, focus on collections of shapes, activities, and distinct instances, cling to names and characteristics, do not understand that appearing forms and characteristics are one’s own mind, do not discriminate happiness and suffering, are not the cause for liberation, arise through and give rise to names, characteristics, and rising desire, and have the [ālaya-consciousness] as their cause and support...However, if the ālaya-consciousness, which is known as "the ''tathāgatagarbha''," does not undergo a change (parāvṛtti), there is no cessation of the seven active consciousnesses. For what reason? Because the consciousnesses flourish by virtue of [the ālaya-consciousness’s serving as] their cause and support, and [because the ālaya-consciousness] is not an object of any of the yogins [who are immersed] in the yogas of [[Śrāvaka|śrāvakas]], [[Pratyekabuddhayāna|pratyekabuddhas]], and tīrthikas. Even when one realizes one’s own lack of a personal self and apprehends the specific and general characteristics of the skandhas, dhātus, and āyatanas, this ''tathāgatagarbha'' still flourishes. It terminates only through seeing the five dharmas, the three natures, and phenomenal identitylessness....Therefore, Mahāmati, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who have this special goal should purify the tathāgata heart, which is known as "the ālaya-consciousness."<ref name=":0" />  </blockquote>Thus, the fundamental mind ([[Chitta (Buddhism)|citta]]) or storehouse consciousness is seen by the ''Lanka'' as neither separate from nor united with the defiled latent tendencies. Like a white piece of clothing that remains white underneath but can be dirtied by dust."<ref name=":0" />