The Principle of How the First Five Consciousnesses and Mind Consciousness Perceive Sense Objects

With steadfast concentration, when observing the visual object, one will invariably discover that it is the eye consciousness that first perceives the color—whether it be blue, yellow, red, white, black, dim, empty, or chaotic. In the second moment, a vague shape becomes discernible, followed by a distinct form. Thus, more details of the visual object manifest, and consequently, the content discriminated by the mental consciousness becomes increasingly numerous and subtle. If one possesses steadfast concentration while observing outwardly, the eye consciousness sees first, followed by the mental consciousness perceiving and discriminating afterward. That is, the manifest form appears first, giving rise to eye consciousness. In the second moment, shape form, expression form, and non-expression form arise, subsequently generating mental consciousness. The fact that mental consciousness arises afterward indicates that these shape form, expression form, and non-expression form are dharma dust that manifest after the manifest form.

In the indriya at the back of the brain, it is divided into many areas. One area is the indriya of the eye, where the manifest form manifests. Another area is the indriya of the ear, where the coarse form of sound manifests. Yet another area is the indriya of the nose, where the coarse olfactory object manifests. These coarse five dusts are all formed by the four great elements. Additionally, there is the location where the dharma dust on the five dusts arises—the location where the form included in the dharma realm is produced. Whether this location and the locations of the previous five indriyas are within the same area has not yet been observed, nor is there any theoretical or scientific basis to confirm it. This area at the back of the brain is particularly complex, divided into many areas that are invisible to us. Scientists, using highly sophisticated instruments, can observe it in detail. The tathāgatagarbha manifests form, sound, smell, taste, and touch in different regions. The dharma dust produced based on these form, sound, smell, taste, and touch—the dharma dust on the five dusts—may arise in yet another distinct region.