The World of Black Boxes (17)

There is actually no such thing as "energy" in the true sense. What is referred to as energy is the material particles composed of the four great elements, such as photons, electrons, neutrons, protons, and other particles. These particles are in a constant state of arising and ceasing, perishing and reappearing in succession, one after another, creating the illusion of energy. Moreover, these particles undergo instantaneous arising and cessation along specific orbits, much like matter moving along a track. During the surface movement of particles, the seeds of the four great elements are continuously changing. When we observe this, we perceive it as a transformation of energy. Yet, the role played by the tathāgatagarbha within this process remains unknown and unseen by us; we only perceive the superficial phenomena. This is ignorance.

Sound particles, composed of the four great elements, can penetrate walls and other obstacles; barriers like walls cannot block the propagation and permeation of these particles. These particles are captured by the tathāgatagarbha from distant sounds and then transmitted along a path to the ear faculty and eardrum, continuing all the way to the supramundane faculty at the back of the head. There, they first form a relatively coarse sound, which interacts with the inner ear faculty, giving rise to ear consciousness. This ear consciousness discerns the coarse vibrational phenomena. Subsequently, based on this coarse sound object, a subtle mental object of sound is further assembled and manifested. This mental object contacts the mental faculty (manas), prompting the tathāgatagarbha to give rise to mind consciousness, which then discerns it.

The subtle mental phenomena encompassing the content, nature, attributes, distance, pleasantness or unpleasantness, and other aspects of various sounds are called mental objects (dharma dust). Once these mental objects are formed, the mental faculty (manas) determines whether to engage with them based on its interest. If it is interested, it decides to discern; the tathāgatagarbha will then manifest mind consciousness to discern it together with the ear consciousness. If the mental faculty is not interested, it decides to avoid discernment; the tathāgatagarbha will not give rise to mind consciousness for discernment, the ear consciousness will also vanish, and the sound will not be heard. Therefore, even if a sound exists, we may not hear it—such as in states of deep meditation, intense focus on other matters, states of mental absence, and so forth—we remain unaware of that particular sound.