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The Thirty Verses on Consciousness-only (Sanskrit: Triṃśikā-vijñaptimātratā; Chinese: 唯識三十論頌; pinyin: Weishi Sanshi Lun Song) is a brief poetic treatise by the Indian Buddhist scholar Vasubandhu. It was composed in the 4th century CE and is one of the core texts of the Yogacara school. It was translated into Chinese by Xuanzang in 648 at Hongfu Monastery.
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Concepts of Atman and dharmas do not imply the existence of a real Atman and real dharmas, but are merely fictitious constructions [ produced by numerous causes ].
Because of this, all varieties of phenomenal appearances and qualities arise.
The phenonena of Atman and dharmas are [ all mental representations ] based on the manifestation and transformation of consciousness.
Consciousnesses capable of unfolding or manifesting themselves may be grouped in three general categories:
(1) The consciousness whose fruits ( retribution ) mature at varying times ( i.e., the eighth or 'Storehouse' consciousness or Alayavijnana ); (2) the consciousness that cogitates or deliberates ( i.e., the seventh or thought-centre consciousness or Manas );
And (3) the consciousness that perceives and discriminates between spheres of objects (i.e., the sixth or sense-centre consciousness or Manovijnana and the five sense consciousnesses ).
The first is the Alayavijnana ( i.e., storehouse or repository consciousness).
It is also called Vipakavijnana ( retributive consciousness ) and Sarvabijakavijnan ( the consciousness that carries within it all Bijas or seeds ). [ It brings to fruition all seeds ( effects of good and evil deeds ). ]
It is impossible to comprehend completely (1) what it 'holds and receives' (upadi). (2) Its 'place' and 'locality' (sthana), and (3) its power of perception and discrmination (vijnapti).
It is at all times associated with five mental attributes (caitta), namely, mental contact (Sparsa).
Attentation (Manaskara), sensation (Vedana), conception (Samjna) and volition (Cetana).
But it is always associated only with the 'sensation of indifference' (Upeksa).