Why Can't We See Visible Objects When the Eye Faculty Is Damaged?

The six faculties, such as the eyes, are the display screens, and the ones watching the display screens are the six consciousnesses, such as the eye consciousness. The display screen is always on, but a person does not necessarily watch it at all times. Whether or not one watches, the people, things, and events 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 watchers, may also offer suggestions; after the manas adopts them, the tathāgatagarbha decides according to the karmic seeds. Therefore, all dharmas on the display screen are manifested through the combined functioning of the three transformative agencies (parināma) of consciousness. When the eyes are damaged, it is as if the switch of the display screen has malfunctioned; once the switch is repaired, the eye consciousness will still be able to see the people and objects on the display screen. However, damage to the eye faculty does not mean the eye consciousness lacks its seeing nature; the eye consciousness can still see darkness. A black screen is also one state of the display screen, which the watcher can also see; when the eyes are damaged, the eye consciousness can still see darkness.