The Illusion of Myopia and Presbyopia

Myopia and presbyopia are primarily related to organic degeneration in the physical sensory faculties. The particles of the four elements transmitted through the physical sensory faculties undergo slight distortion, causing the image formed in the subtle cognitive faculties to become deformed and not conform to the original appearance. Consequently, the visual consciousness and mental consciousness perceive a distorted form-dust, necessitating the use of glasses to correct and compensate for the pathological changes in the physical sensory faculties. In the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, the World-Honored One explained that when a person with an eye obstruction, such as a cataract, looks at a light, they may see circular shadows within the light. In reality, the light does not contain circular shadows, and others cannot see them. This occurs because an extra piece of flesh grows on the retina of the eye patient, obstructing the transmission of the particles of the four elements from the external form-dust. As a result, a dark spot appears in the subtle cognitive faculties at the back of the brain, which is the circular shadow. The internal form-dust of the light perceived by the visual consciousness and mental consciousness thus includes the circular shadow; it is not entirely bright.

Closing the eyes to rest the spirit brings calmness and tranquility. When the eyes perceive objects, they consume qi and blood. Excessive use of the eyes leads to qi deficiency and blood depletion. When the qi and blood in the body's organs, such as the liver and kidneys, become insufficient and depleted, it results in eye fatigue, distension, pain, and the development of pathological conditions like myopia and presbyopia. Vision becomes unclear, and reading text requires the aid of myopic or presbyopic glasses. Although people with eye diseases see objects blurrily, other normal individuals perceive the same objects and text clearly and normally. Therefore, the forms seen by each sentient being are false and illusory forms within their own subtle cognitive faculties' black box, not the true and real forms existing outside.

After putting on glasses, the forms seen appear clear and normal, yet the perceived forms become even more illusory and unreal. The Tathāgatagarbha captures particles of external form-dust transmitted through the air onto the glasses. These particles differ somewhat from the actual external form-dust. The glass lenses of the glasses block some particles and magnify the form-dust, creating an illusory appearance composed of a false, similar arrangement and combination of particles. This is then transmitted to the physical sensory faculties of the eyes, where more particles are blocked. After passing through the vitreous body and optic nerves, it reaches the subtle cognitive faculties, becoming an internal form-dust that is even more false and illusory than before, appearing slightly larger, making it easier for the visual consciousness and mental consciousness to recognize. Therefore, what the six consciousnesses perceive has no claim to reality; why cling to preferences about sounds being good or bad, right or wrong?

Consider these questions: First, when a person with myopia or presbyopia is not wearing glasses, are the forms seen true? Second, when wearing glasses, are the forms seen true? Third, when the eyes are normal, are the forms seen true and real?

Conclusion: Anything that changes according to causes and conditions, changing as the causes and conditions change, is necessarily a false, illusory, and unreal dharma. One should negate it, not regard it as true, nor consider it as self or belonging to self. So, do you still believe what your physical eyes see? Do you trust what the six consciousnesses know and perceive? Finally: Is everything you know correct? Are you still confident? Then finally: Do you still mistake the false for real? Do you wish to recognize the true? Will you be able to recognize the true in the future? How to recognize the true?