The Black Box Is the Stage

Within all changing states, our mind has never actually moved nor gone anywhere; it eternally resides within the black box, observing the comings and goings of various states and their unfathomable transformations, while simultaneously making vague responses. It is like in animated films and movie scenes, where there is no actual movement or stillness of scenery or characters—it is merely the rapid projection of numerous images. Similarly, within the black box, neither the mind consciousness nor the states move or cease; it is only the rapid flashing of various pictures and scenes. The director is the manas (intellect), the producer is the tathagatagarbha (Buddha-nature), and the six consciousnesses are the actors and the audience. Therefore, all we watch are animated films, all are dramas, with nothing real to speak of. The act of observing by the five aggregates is also directed; the director commands the six consciousnesses to act as it wills, and yet the director itself is involuntary, being at most a protagonist. When the play concludes, it too will exit the stage.