(1) An unspecified, nonobstructive, individual consciousness that underlies all cognition, cognizes the same objects as the cognitions it underlies, but is a non-determining cognition of what appears to it and lacks clarity of its objects. It carries the karmic legacies of karma and the mental impressions of memories, in the sense that they are imputations on it. With these defining characteristics, it is asserted only by the Chittamatra tenet system and, according to this system, it has truly established existence. (2) For the usage of this term in the Madhyamaka systems by Karma Kagyu, see "dividing consciousness alaya."
Tibetan: ཀུན་གཞི་རྣམ་ཤེས། kun-gzhi rnam-shes
Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna
J. Hopkins: MInd-basis-of-all
Synonyms: All-encompassing foundation consciousness; Foundation consciousness; Storehouse consciousness
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