'Store consciousness （a^layavijn~a^na）. ，' 'container consciousness;' translated into Chinese as 藏识. Also known as the eighth consciousness 第八识. The eighth and the most fundamental of the eight consciousnesses established in the doctrine of the Yoga^ca^ra 瑜伽行派 school. The a^laya consciousness accumulates all potential energy for the mental and physical manifestation of one's existence， and supplies the substance to all existences. It also receives impressions from all functions of the other consciousnesses and retains them as potential energy for their further manifestations and activities. Since it serves as the basis for the production of the other seven consciousness （called the "transformed consciousnesses" 转识）， it is also known as the "base consciousness" （mu^la-vijn~a^na） 本识， and "causal consciouness" 缘识. Since it serves as the container for all experiential impressions （termed metaphorically as "seeds" it is also called the "seed consciousness" 种子识.
There are three meanings of the term 'storehouse:' （1） Subject store. The a^laya-vijn~a^na stores and keeps all the seeds of the mind within one's consciousness. （2） Object-store. The eighth consciousness store and perfumates the seeds for the prior seven consciousnesses. （3） Attachment-store. The eighth consciousness provides a sense of eternality， unity， subjectivity and mastery， resembling an eternal a^tman， thus causing the seventh consciousness to mistakenly perceive and attach to a self.