The Samadhi Realm Is the Solitary Image Realm

(There is an accompanying image below) When the Samadhi of Buddha-Recitation is attained, all Buddhas of the ten directions stand manifest before one's eyes, perceived clearly by the visual consciousness, yet others cannot see them. What state is this?

When the contemplation of skeletons is perfected, one sees all people as interconnected white bones, with utter clarity, yet others cannot see this. What state is this? In the Contemplation Sutra, after the first contemplation—the contemplation of the sun—is attained, whether one's eyes are open or closed, the setting sun appears like a suspended drum before one's eyes and in the mind, yet others cannot see it. What state is this? After each of the sixteen contemplations is perfected, corresponding states manifest, seen by the visual consciousness, yet others cannot see them. What state is this?

When one sees stars dancing before the eyes, flickering points of light visible only to oneself while others cannot see them—what state is this? A mirage is visible to everyone—what form does it possess? For instance, when seeing stars, can the eye perceive golden stars or black stars? The white bones in skeleton contemplation, the reddish hue of the setting sun, and so forth—how is this to be understood?

The visual consciousness perceives colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, black, and white. Anything perceived with the participation of the visual consciousness cannot be a state of exclusive mental reflection (pratyātmajñānagocara). However, any form seen in meditative concentration is perceived solely by the exclusive mental consciousness (manovijñāna), without the visual consciousness. The colors appearing in recollection, the colors seen in dreams—all are perceived by the exclusive mental consciousness, not by the visual consciousness. Here, there is no visual consciousness.