To Which Dharma Does Time Belong?

Time is not a real dharma composed of the four great elements, nor is it directly born from the Tathāgatagarbha. It is an illusory appearance manifested after the Tathāgatagarbha gives rise to material rūpa dharma; it is not an external dust, and the Tathāgatagarbha cannot perceive it. Only after the eye consciousness and mental consciousness are produced can time be discriminated and recognized based on material rūpa dharma. When eye consciousness and mental consciousness are absent, such as during sleep, the manas can still perceive time, also relying on the material rūpa dharma born from the Tathāgatagarbha to discriminate and recognize it. Thus, a separate dharma called time does not exist, nor is there a distinction between external appearance portions and internal appearance portions. The manas can also discriminate dharmas that do not belong to external appearance portions or internal appearance portions.