External Manifestation and Internal Manifestation

The objective aspect is the material dharmas collectively experienced by sentient beings with karmic connections, such as the universal vessel world. The universal vessel world is formed when the Tathāgatagarbha of each karmically connected sentient being collectively emits the seeds of the four fundamental elements, generating the four elements. Then, all Tathāgatagarbhas collectively use these four elements to manifest the universal vessel world. This aspect can only be contacted by the respective Tathāgatagarbhas of sentient beings; material dharmas can contact each other, but the seven consciousnesses cannot reach them. Therefore, sentient beings absolutely cannot know what the objective aspect actually looks like or how much it differs from the image of the internal aspect within their own Black Box.

When scientific instruments are used to test the universe, regardless of whether science develops or not, the instruments must come into contact with the objective aspect, not the internal aspect. This is because scientific instruments are also material dharmas, just like the form-dust of the objective aspect. Both are created by the Tathāgatagarbhas of sentient beings sharing collective karma using the seeds of the four fundamental elements; both are part of the objective aspect that only Tathāgatagarbha can contact. However, when humans attempt to observe the objective aspect, both the instrument and the form-dust become part of the internal aspect. An image of the objective aspect is generated at the back of the head, called the internal aspect. Humans can only observe this false appearance here. If humans do not observe or investigate, there is no internal aspect, only the objective aspect. Once observation occurs, a transformed internal aspect arises, which is similar to the objective aspect but differs. Hence, it is said that material dharmas are different depending on whether they are observed by the human eye or not.

No matter how advanced science becomes, there can be no claim that humans can infinitely approach the objective aspect. This is because, as long as humans rely on subtle sense faculties, everything they perceive consists of dharmas within the Black Box of the subtle sense faculties; dharmas outside the Black Box cannot be seen by the physical eye. As for why this is so, it is due to the rules and laws of Tathāgatagarbha, which even a Buddha cannot intervene in. However, a Buddha possesses immeasurable supernatural powers and can use or not use the subtle sense faculties freely, depending on nothing, whereas we cannot.

The objective aspect is an absolute existence, independent of human will. It is the most primordial material dharma manifested by Tathāgatagarbha, and also the most fundamental material dharma. Once sentient beings contact it, the material dharma is no longer primordial nor fundamental; it is no longer the initial fundamental state. When an individual's eight consciousnesses become involved, they alter the material dharma, and what is altered is the material dharma within their own mind. Hence, there is the notion that all phenomena are but one's own mind. Can the most primordial material dharma of the objective aspect be altered? It can also be altered. When an individual's karmic forces become integrated, the experienced dharmas undergo certain changes. The only difference lies in whether these changes can be perceived and how obvious they are.