Brief Discussion on Material Elements (Draft)

VI. The Distinction Between the Objective Realm and the Realm with Substance

The Objective Realm is manifested through the direct participation of the eighth consciousness, jointly generated by the output of the four great elements (earth, water, fire, wind) from the eighth consciousnesses of all karmically connected sentient beings. This is termed the Objective Realm. After an individual sentient being’s eighth consciousness perceives the Objective Realm, it manifests an image-like reflection, much like a mirror reflecting an object. This reflection is called the Realm with Substance, which is then perceived by the seventh consciousness, the mental faculty.

For instance, the earth in the Objective Realm is composed of actual seeds of the four great elements—earth, water, fire, and wind. It is a real entity possessing solidity. When the seventh consciousness, the mental faculty, perceives the perceiving division of the eighth consciousness, it apprehends the Realm with Substance—the reflected image of the earth—manifested by the perceiving division of the eighth consciousness. This reflected earth is but an image, like a reflection in a mirror; it is unreal and lacks genuine solidity.

Similarly, the water in the Objective Realm is composed of actual seeds of the four great elements, possessing moisture and the capacity to submerge. It is perceived by the eighth consciousness. After perceiving it, the perceiving division of the eighth consciousness manifests the Realm with Substance—the reflected image of water. This image, like a reflection in a mirror, lacks actual moisture or submerging properties. It is perceived by the seventh consciousness, the mental faculty, and is termed the Realm with Substance.

Likewise, the fire in the Objective Realm is composed of actual seeds of the four great elements, possessing the capacity to burn. It is perceived by the eighth consciousness. After perceiving it, the eighth consciousness gives rise to a similar Realm with Substance—the reflected image of fire. Like fire in a mirror, it lacks the capacity to burn. The mental faculty perceives it, and it is called the Realm with Substance.

Similarly, the wind in the Objective Realm is composed of actual seeds of the four great elements, possessing the capacity to blow and drift. It is perceived by the eighth consciousness. After perceiving it, the eighth consciousness gives rise to the Realm with Substance—the reflected image of wind. Like a reflection in a mirror, it lacks the capacity to blow or drift. The mental faculty perceives it, and it is termed the Realm with Substance.

Relying on the perceiving division of the eighth consciousness, the mental faculty perceives these phenomena and mistakenly believes them to be real and directly witnessed by itself. It appropriates the perceiving division of the eighth consciousness as its own, unaware that what it perceives fundamentally differs from what the eighth consciousness perceives. It does not realize that without the eighth consciousness serving as the mirror, it would perceive nothing at all. By claiming the functions of the eighth consciousness as its own, it acts as a thief.

All phenomena are illusory—as stated in the scriptures, this truth is real and undeniable. The seventh consciousness perceives the perceiving division of the eighth consciousness, while the eighth consciousness itself is truly existent, representing the genuine essence of reality.