Black Box World (34)

It seems as if we are in contact with all phenomena, as if observing one scene after another, hearing one sound followed by another; as if smelling one fragrance after another, along with various scents diffusing in the air; as if feeling the touch of one ray of sunlight after another, one gentle breeze after another. All these states and realms continuously transform one after another. Yet, regardless of how they change, no matter how myriad the transformations, they are all merely images within a black box.

Has the relatively real external realm undergone any change? The external realm is also ceaselessly transforming. One form-dust after another continuously arises, one sound after another continuously emerges, one scent after another continuously assails the nostrils. Because the external realm constantly changes, the internal realm consequently shifts accordingly. The six consciousnesses must continuously make contact, perceive, and experience. What the six consciousnesses perceive and discern are precisely these twice-transformed realms. Therefore, the internal images within the black box are derived from the seemingly real appearances of the external world. Without the external aspect (nimitta), there would be no internal aspect (pratibimba).

The scenes of the external aspect are bound to change; it is merely a matter of whether our five sense faculties (the five roots) can apprehend them. For example, in a certain place, there truly exists an external form-dust such as a mountain. Yet, our eye faculty cannot actually adhere to that mountain; it cannot make direct contact with that mountain, nor can the mountain enter into the eye faculty itself. Nevertheless, we are able to see that mountain. This matter is truly marvelous to speak of.

Similarly, when sound-dust arises in a distant place, such as thunder or birdsong, these sounds do not come into direct contact with the ear faculty, yet we clearly hear the thunder and birdsong. This too is quite marvelous. The round sun suspended high in the Trayastriṃśa Heaven is immensely distant from our bodies, yet our body faculty can constantly feel the touch of its radiant light. This is truly difficult to conceive. Distant sandalwood fragrance is exceedingly far from our nose faculty, yet our nose consciousness can still perceive the scent of sandalwood. This is also inconceivable. The five sense faculties do not make actual contact with the external five dusts, yet the five consciousnesses are able to perceive and discern the five dusts. What do all these phenomena indicate? They indicate that what our six consciousnesses contact and perceive are all the internal five dusts transformed by the Tathāgatagarbha based on the external five dusts. They are images of the external five dusts, shadows within the black box—not the true realm of phenomena, but false appearances illusorily conjured a second time by the Tathāgatagarbha.