How Are the External Six Dusts and Internal Six Dusts Formed?

The external objects are called the external six dusts, which are transmitted through the external sense faculties to the internal sense faculties, forming the internal dusts. This entire process is entirely the work of the Tathāgatagarbha, not the external or internal sense faculties themselves. The external and internal sense faculties are composed of the four great elements and have no inherent function. If consciousness did not arise and function within them, the external and internal sense faculties would be the same as stones, wood, or insentient objects. It is precisely because consciousness operates within the external sense faculties, internal sense faculties, and the physical body composed of the four great elements that the physical body appears to function. The external and internal sense faculties then appear capable of transmitting material phenomena and acquiring the function of receiving material phenomena. In reality, all these functions are entirely the work of the Tathāgatagarbha. The function of the external sense faculties themselves is the work of the Tathāgatagarbha; the function of the internal sense faculties themselves is the work of the Tathāgatagarbha; the structure of the internal and external sense faculties is created by the Tathāgatagarbha. All external material phenomena, the six dusts, are also created by the Tathāgatagarbha. Thus, when the Tathāgatagarbha transmits the external six dusts through the external sense faculties into the internal sense faculties, forming the internal six dusts, this too is the work of the Tathāgatagarbha.

The internal six dusts are composed of subtle four great elements and are also produced by the Tathāgatagarbha, generated from the seeds of the four great elements. Both external and internal dusts are accumulations of the seeds of the four great elements. However, the seeds of the four great elements differ: the external dusts constitute the essential realm, composed of substantial seeds of the four great elements, while the internal dusts are not the essential realm. They are illusory reflections based on the external dusts, composed of more subtle seeds of the four great elements, with a slightly different structure, hence they are called reflections. Just like a mirror: the object outside the mirror is a substantial object, called the external dust, while the image inside the mirror is not a substantial object, hence it is called a reflection. Although it is also composed of the four great elements, this is somewhat difficult to comprehend. The reflection and the external form are identical in appearance, but their essence is different; there is a distinction.