Why Can't One See Material Sense-Objects When the Eye Faculty Is Damaged

The six faculties, such as the eye, are the display screen, and those who watch the display screen are the six consciousnesses, such as the eye consciousness. The display screen is always open, yet a person does not necessarily watch it at every moment. Whether one watches or not, the people, events, and things on the display screen keep playing and manifesting. What the display screen manifests is decided by the tathāgatagarbha; whether the six consciousnesses watch or not is decided by the manas. Whether to change the channel is also decided by the manas. As for what to watch and what not to watch, the six consciousnesses, as the viewers, may also make suggestions; after the manas adopts them, the tathāgatagarbha decides according to the karmic seeds. Therefore, all the dharmas on the display screen are manifested through the combined functioning of the three transforming consciousnesses. When the eye is damaged, it is as if the switch of the display screen has malfunctioned; once the switch is repaired, the eye consciousness will again see the people and objects on the display screen. However, a damaged eye faculty does not mean the eye consciousness lacks its nature of seeing; the eye consciousness can still see darkness. A black screen is also one state of the display screen, which the viewer can also perceive; when the eye is damaged, the eye consciousness can see darkness.