The Black Box World (47)

Therefore, the transformation of all dharmas must begin with the alteration of the external manifestation-part (bāhya-pratibhāsa). This altered external manifestation-part is then transmitted through the physical sense faculties (bāhya-indriya, or "floating dust" faculties) to the subtle sense faculties (sūkṣma-indriya, or "pure substance" faculties), thereby forming the internal manifestation-part (adhyātma-pratibhāsa). However, since my hand cannot physically contact the external manifestation-part of the book, how could it possibly cause the external manifestation-part of the book to change first, thereby inducing a change in the internal manifestation-part of the book?

Furthermore, for example, when the six consciousnesses (ṣaḍ-vijñāna) create the karma of killing a person, these consciousnesses can only interact with the internal manifestation-part of the person, not the external manifestation-part. So how do the six consciousnesses cause the external manifestation-part of the person to cease to exist? Moreover, it is the external manifestation-part of the person that ceases or is destroyed first, and only afterward can the internal manifestation-part of the person cease or be destroyed. Since the internal manifestation-part arises from and depends upon the external manifestation-part for its manifestation, it is certain that the external manifestation-part changes first, and only then can the internal manifestation-part follow suit and change.

This great secret is left here for those with the affinity (hetu-pratyaya) to investigate carefully. It cannot be elaborated upon further in this text.